INSTITUTE OF MARX—ENGELS—LENIN at the CC of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)
Proletarians of all countries, unite!

LENIN
COLLECTION
XXXV

OGIZ
STATE PUBLISHING HOUSE
OF POLITICAL LITERATURE
1945

1920

PREFACE

The materials of the Lenin Collection XXXV cover the period from October 1917 to December 1922. The collection contains approximately 700 previously unpublished documents—letters, telegrams, notes, resolutions, annotations by V. I. Lenin, as well as drafts of decrees of the Soviet government written by V. I. Lenin.

The collection publishes new military documents by V. I. Lenin from the period of civil war and intervention in 1918—1920. Among them are materials concerning the defeat of German occupiers in 1918.

Also published are a number of new documents from the military correspondence between V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin.

A substantial portion of the collection is devoted to questions of organizing the work of the Soviet rear in aid of the front—supplying the Red Army with weapons, ammunition, provisions, and ensuring military reinforcements; improving transportation work, improving medical services for the army, as well as increasing labor productivity at enterprises and ensuring workers and their families with provisions and housing.

A series of Lenin documents are devoted to elaborating measures by the Party and government for establishing proper relations with the Soviet peasantry during the civil war.

The collection publishes a group of documents characterizing the joint activity of V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin in building the Soviet state, organizing the central and local organs of the Soviet republic, and guiding their activity during the war years and during the transition to peaceful construction.

The documents are arranged in chronological order; only in a few cases are they grouped thematically, in order to ensure organic connection between individual documents devoted to the same question.

For each published document—if it is not a Lenin manuscript—a note is given on the character of the original from which the text is printed (original with V. I. Lenin's signature; telephone message dictated by V. I. Lenin himself; handwritten or typewritten copy; telegraph form).

Document titles printed in bold type belong to the editorial board of the collection.

The present collection was prepared for publication by N. Podvoiskaya, edited by V. Kruzhkov and B. Ponomarev.

Institute of Marx—Engels—Lenin
at the CC of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)

1917—1918

DUTIES OF A SENTINEL AT THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

Not earlier than October 27 (November 9), 1917

1. Do not admit anyone except People's Commissars (if the orderly does not know them by sight, he must demand a pass, i.e., a credential from them).

2. From all others, require that they write their name on paper and in two words the purpose of their visit. This note the orderly must transmit to the Chairman, and without his permission admit no one into the room.

3. When there is no one in the room, keep the door slightly ajar so as to hear telephone rings and to invite one of the secretaries to the telephone.

4. When someone is in the Chairman's room, always keep the door closed.

ORDER TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

October 30 (November 12), 1917

The Acting Deputy People's Commissar for the Ministry of Finance calls the attention of the inhabitants of Petrograd that employees of the treasuries and savings banks, neglecting the interests of the poor and broad circles of the population, are disrupting the work of the banks.

A strike of officials is inadmissible. In all institutions of the Ministry of Finance tomorrow, October 31, classes must proceed at the usual time.

If a strike continues in any institutions of the Ministry of Finance, the heads of these institutions will be immediately arrested.

Vl. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Acting Deputy People's Commissar
for the Ministry of Finance V. Menzhinsky

TELEGRAM TO THE MILITARY-REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE
MOSCOW

November 16 (29), 1917

The Council of People's Commissars confirms the act on the dissolution of the Moscow City Duma, issued by the Moscow Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

NOTE FROM I. V. STALIN

November 19 (December 2), 1917, 3 o'clock p.m.

For the information of the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, Comrade Lenin

I request that the following urgent questions be placed on the agenda of the Council of People's Commissars for discussion:

1) Commissariats for Food and Agriculture.

2) The question of regulating trade with Finland in connection with the question of currency (Finnish).

3) The question of postponing (partially) elections to the Constituent Assembly.

4) The question regarding Ukraine and the Rada.

5) The question of nationalization of the coal industry.

6) The question of credits to the Commissariats.

People's Commissar

I. Stalin

TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE PETROGRAD
MILITARY DISTRICT

November 20 (December 3), 1917

Immediately issue 100,000 rubles at my disposal for a loan to cover urgent needs of the Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

RESOLUTION ON A NOTE BY M. T.

November 29 (December 12), 1917

To the Council of People's Commissars

I request the allocation of a credit of three thousand rubles
from the five-million fund at my disposal
on account for the needs of the Commissariat.

Acting Deputy People's Commissar of Communications

M. Elizarov

ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR BASELESS ACCUSATIONS

End of November 1917

The Central Committee establishes the principle:

in all quarrelsome affairs and personal accusations, those who make such accusations without presenting precise charges to the court are considered slanderers;

those who consider themselves wounded by such accusations are invited to appeal to the court.

ELIZAROVA

Issue
as a loan.

Lenin

DECREE BY V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN
REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF THE OTTOMAN KORAN TO MUSLIMS

December 6 (19), 1917

Issue immediately.

People's Commissar

I. Dzhugashvili-Stalin

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

To the People's Commissar for National Affairs

At the present time, the State Public Library houses a sacred treasure, the patrimony of the entire Muslim world—the Ottoman Koran.

The sacred relics of Muslims must be in the hands of Muslims themselves—all Muslims of Russia desire this.

In fulfillment of the desires of all Russian Muslims, the Regional Muslim Congress of the Petrograd National District unanimously resolved:

1) The patrimony of all Muslims—the sacred Ottoman Koran—must immediately pass into the possession of Muslims.

2) The sacred Ottoman Koran must be handed over by the Regional Congress to the national parliament of Muslims of Inner Russia and Siberia now in session in the city of Ufa.

3) The execution of this resolution is entrusted to the Chairman of the Congress.

REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE STRUGGLE
AGAINST KALEDIN

DIRECTIVE TO THE STATE TREASURY
ON THE RELEASE OF FUNDS TO THE BAKU SOVIET

December 16 (29), 1917

In urgent order, release under the estimate of the Commissariat of Internal Affairs half a million (500,000) rubles.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

RECEIPT BY I. V. STALIN

December 18 (31), 1917

Received in full 500,000 (half a million) rubles.

People's Commissar for the Affairs of Nationalities

I. Stalin

RESOLUTION
ON A LETTER FROM N. I. PODVOYSKY

December 21, 1917 (January 3, 1918)

For the equipment of troops being formed
in the Moscow district for the struggle
against Kaledin, it is necessary to release
to the disposal of the Commander of the
Moscow Military District one million
(1,000,000) rubles from the Soviet fund
(from the five-million fund).

As a loan
to be paid back from the
estimates of the Military
Ministry.

REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSAR
FOR UKRAINE

December 19, 1917 (January 1, 1918)

Comrade Sergei Ordzhonikidze is appointed temporary Extraordinary Commissar of the District of Ukraine for the purpose of unifying the actions of the Soviet organizations functioning there in all branches of their work (military, food, banking, etc.).

Approved.

Lenin

TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE RED GUARD

January 3 (16), 1918

The Council of People's Commissars orders the Headquarters of the Red Guard to issue for special internal security of the Tauride Palace thirty (30) revolvers.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

TELEGRAM
PEOPLE'S SECRETARIAT, HEADQUARTERS OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER
ORDZHONIKIDZE
KHARKOV

TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE MOSCOW MILITARY DISTRICT
PRESIDIUM OF THE SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES
MOSCOW

January 13 (26), 1918, 1 hour 00 minutes

We have received a report that between Oryol and Kursk a blockage has formed, preventing the movement of trains with coal and bread. Any stoppage threatens famine and the shutdown of industry. We suspect sabotage by railroad workers at this location, since there have been cases of sabotage there before. We urgently request that the most merciless revolutionary measures be taken. We request that a detachment of absolutely reliable people be sent. By all means, push trains with bread to Petrograd, otherwise famine threatens. Place several sailors or Red Guards on the locomotives. Remember that it depends on you to save Petrograd from starvation.

Lenin

REGARDING THE DECREE ON NATIONALIZATION OF MARITIME
AND RIVER COMMERCIAL FLEET

January 18 (31), 1918

DRAFT DECREE

1. The Council of People's Commissars notes that both the Central Committee and the Centrovolga are in complete agreement regarding the necessity to immediately nationalize, without compensation, all maritime and river vessels serving commercial purposes.

2. Therefore, the Council of People's Commissars resolves to carry out this nationalization immediately, entrusting a special commission composed of representatives of the Maritime Commissariat, two representatives from the Central Committee, two from Centrovolga, and a chairman appointed by the Supreme Council of the National Economy to work out the following bases of the decree on nationalization and present them to the Council of People's Commissars within two days.

3. The nationalization of the entire fleet is decreed.

4. Responsibility for maintaining order on vessels, for their preservation, and so on is placed directly on the ship commands, and then on the unions of ship workers in each basin or sea.

5. The central administrations of all nationalized fleet are temporarily recognized as the Central Committee and Centrovolga, pending a congress and unification.

If unification is not achieved voluntarily, it will be carried out by Soviet authority by compulsion.

6. The central administrations act in complete subordination to the organs of local and central Soviet authority.

ADDITION TO THE DRAFT

Add further to the immediate decree on nationalization:

(a) arrest of all boards (domestic),
(ß) strict responsibility for damage to vessels, etc.

RESOLUTION
OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
REGARDING MARITIME AND RIVER COMMERCIAL FLEET

January 18 (31), 1918

1) The Council of People's Commissars notes that both the Central Committee and Centrovolga are in complete agreement regarding the necessity to immediately nationalize, without compensation, all maritime and river vessels serving commercial purposes.

2) Therefore, the Council of People's Commissars resolves to carry out this nationalization immediately, entrusting a special commission composed of representatives of the Maritime Commissariat, two representatives from the Central Committee, two from Centrovolga, and a chairman appointed by the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

3) The nationalization of the entire fleet is decreed.

4) Responsibility for maintaining order on vessels, for their preservation, and so forth is placed directly on the ship commands, and then on the unions of ship workers in each basin or sea.

Pending the resolution of the question on fleet nationalization, place under arrest all maritime and river cargo and passenger vessels and institute mandatory repairs of these vessels at the expense of their owners under the control of ship workers' organizations.

5) The central administrations of all nationalized fleet are temporarily recognized as the Central Committee and Centrovolga, pending a congress and unification.

If unification is not achieved voluntarily, it will be carried out by Soviet authority by compulsion.

Propose to the Central Committee of the union of rivermen and sailors and to Centrovolga that they unify at the forthcoming congress of rivermen and sailors and immediately enter into business contact.

6) The central administrations act in complete subordination to the organs of local and central Soviet authority.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

People's Commissar

Stalin

TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR FOR MILITARY AFFAIRS
N. I. PODVOYSKY

January 22 (February 4), 1918

As a circular

The Council of People's Commissars proposes that you, with every dispatch of money, take all measures to ensure that the money actually reaches its destination. Monitor the money trains sent by telegraph, checking at all major stations.

Organize controlling organs at the accounting departments to monitor the execution of appropriations by the Treasury, the execution of orders for the dispatch of currency signs by the State Bank, and so forth, for the purpose of more rapid dispatch of signs to their destinations.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

REGARDING THE GRANTING OF DECISIVE VOTE TO DEPUTIES
OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS, WRITTEN BY V. I. LENIN,
JANUARY 23 (FEBRUARY 5), 1918

Deputies of absent People's Commissars may participate in sessions of the Council of People's Commissars with decisive vote only on the condition that these deputies are appointed by resolution of the Council of People's Commissars from the composition of members of the collegiums of the corresponding Commissariats.

NOTE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

March—April 1918

Here are sitting, apparently, persons invited on another question.

There is no need to drive them out.

But I declare a reprimand to you and the other secretaries: it has been said a hundred times that invitations can only be issued for the corresponding question.

TELEGRAM TO THE MOSCOW SOVIET

January 27 (February 9), 1918

Moscow

Presidium of the Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies.

Money has been sent.

Lenin

NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE

January 30 (February 12), 1918

Please help the petitioners with advice and directions (First Russian Society of Communist Agriculturalists) regarding how and where to obtain land. This is an excellent initiative; support it in every way.

Lenin

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES
OF THE CITY OF DRISSA

February 19, 1918

Offer resistance where possible. Remove all valuables and provisions. Destroy everything else. Leave the enemy nothing. Dismantle the tracks—two versts for every ten. Blow up the bridges.

Lenin

NOTE TO YA. M. SVERDLOV

March 15, 1918

Comrade Sverdlov,

1) I have a letter from Wilson. Is it needed?

2) When should I speak? Answer.

Lenin

NOTES BY V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN
TO S. G. URALOV

Not later than March 23, 1918

Occupied at present. I request you to wait or turn to Stalin.

Lenin

March 23, 1918

Please be so kind as to come at 7 o'clock this evening.

Stalin

REGARDING THE CREATION OF A SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

March 26, 1918

Approved. 1. A special Commission is established at the Council of People's
Lenin Commissars for the examination of minor matters not requiring
principled discussion.

2. Members of the Commission are appointed from among the People's Commissars and their assistants, numbering 4 persons.

3. The Commission holds sessions at least three times a week, and its resolutions are approved at the nearest session of the Council of People's Commissars at the beginning of the session before the resolution of other questions.

4. Questions are resolved by simple majority; at the request of one of the members, a question may be transferred for consideration by the Council of People's Commissars as a separate question.

TELEGRAMS BY V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN
TO THE EKATERINBURG AND KRASNOYARSK SOVIETS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES

April 2, 1918, Moscow

To Ekaterinburg Soviet, Krasnoyarsk Soviet

Immediately send the Estonian barons to the West in accelerated order for liberation.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

People's Commissar

Stalin

April 3, 1918, Moscow

Urgent, ahead of all other matters

Krasnoyarsk Soviet, Ekaterinburg Soviet

What further confirmation do you need? It has been said to you dozens of times that the Estonian barons must be returned home in accelerated order. Execute this directive of the Party Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, or say directly that you do not wish to execute it. We will then know that you assume responsibility for the calamities resulting from your refusal to obey, and we will draw the appropriate conclusions.

Lenin. Stalin

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF SOVIETS OF SIBERIA
REGARDING THE PREPARATION OF DEFENSE AGAINST FOREIGN INTERVENTIONISTS

April 6, 1918

Received Yakovlev's note. I approve the plans for preparation and mobilization. If they should advance, offer resistance. Transmitted to the Military Commissariat. We will try to help with a dispatch of money, although our difficulties are extraordinarily great. I request more frequent information.

Lenin

DECREE ON THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSARIAT
OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT

April 9, 1918

The Extraordinary Commissar of the Council of People's Commissars, Comrade S. Ordzhonikidze, is entrusted with organizing under his chairmanship a temporary Extraordinary Commissariat of the Southern District, unifying the activities of the Crimea, the Don Territory, the Terek Territory, the Black Sea Province, the Black Sea Fleet, and all the Northern Caucasus up to Baku.

The purpose of the commissariat: the unwavering implementation of the directives of the central Soviet authority on land and sea, concentrated struggle against bourgeois counter-revolution, the consolidation of Soviet authority in its district of activity, the maintenance of direct contact between the regions and the Council of People's Commissars.

The Extraordinary Commissariat is composed of a chairman and representatives from the regions and the fleet, one from each, by agreement between the authorized organs of the regions and the chairman of the commissariat.

The Extraordinary Commissariat has the right to control the activities of all Soviet institutions in the district. The Councils of People's Commissars, the Soviets of People's Deputies, the Revolutionary Committees, the Revolutionary War Councils of the district, as well as the authorized organ of the fleet, act in full contact with the Extraordinary Commissariat as the representative of the central Soviet authority in the district.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Moscow

People's Commissar

I. Stalin

April 9, 1918

RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

April 17, 1918

20 million rubles are appropriated for the disposal of the Supreme Council of the National Economy for the issuance of deposits to peasants for the sowing of sugar beets—with the condition that the Supreme Council of the National Economy take all necessary measures guaranteeing the proper expenditure of these sums and their timely return.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SECRETARIAT
OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

April 26, 1918

To the Secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars

Regarding the procedure for issuing certificates

Certificates on various questions discussed in the Council of People's Commissars, excerpts from protocols, and so forth can be issued only upon oral or written requests from the People's Commissars and members of their collegiums, as well as, of course, to the manager of affairs of the Council of People's Commissars and the head of the office of the Management. All other persons may be issued certificates only with the permission of the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars. Certificates regarding whether a given question was discussed and, if not discussed, whether it was submitted to the Council for discussion, or what direction the secretariat gave to the question which for some reason could not be placed on the Council's agenda, must be issued to all interested parties. Persons to whom the secretariat, in accordance with this instruction, has no right to issue the certificate they are interested in should be directed to the appropriate People's Commissariats or institutions on behalf of which the given question was brought before the Council of People's Commissars.

This instruction must be accepted by the secretariat for strict execution.

Distribute the instruction for the information of all Commissariats.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

ANNOTATION ON A LETTER FROM AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MANAGEMENT
OF NORTHERN ROADS

May 4, 1918

We will put this on the agenda of the Council of People's Commissars today (but then we will need to call in Stalin).

DIRECTIVE TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE KREMLIN

May 17, 1918

To Comrade, the Commandant of the Kremlin

I propose that urgent measures be taken for the restoration of the Vladimir Gates (Kremlin tower facing the Historical Museum), entrusting one of the architects, on the instructions of P. P. Malinovsky, to present an estimate and to oversee the execution of the work.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

TELEGRAM TO ARKHANGELSK

FORESTRY DEPARTMENT OF THE SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES, COPY TO THE LUMBERJACK

May 28, 1918

The Council of People's Commissars has in principle resolved to issue a loan to the artels for log floating and firewood preparation on condition of ensuring the interests of the state. The conditions, procedure for issuance, and amounts of the loan will be worked out by a special commission within two days. Continue the floating. A large amount of firewood will be needed.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

CIRCULAR TELEGRAM TO ALL SOVIETS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES

June 5, 1918

The Council of People's Commissars confirms that all banks, both the State Bank (the People's Bank of the Russian Republic) and former private banks, are under the supervision of the Commissariat of Finance. All commissars of any banks whatsoever, whoever appointed them, as well as savings banks, are obliged to carry out the directives of the People's Commissar of Finance.

The Council of People's Commissars reminds all Soviets of People's Deputies and all banking institutions that the strictest centralization of all banking activities necessarily flows from the entire policy of Soviet authority and from all the decrees it has issued.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

NOTE BY DIRECT TELEGRAPH

KYIV

June 6, 1918, 1 hour 15 minutes

Lenin is at the apparatus.

I did not understand what shells are bursting; what is the matter, explain. As for the password, I also do not understand; if you wish, let it be from us: "from Ivan Karlovich." But a serious password must be established through a courier and by cipher, not by telegraph.

Lenin

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MOROZOVSK EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
COPY TO THE BOLSHAYA GRIBANOVKA SUGAR FACTORY

June 7, 1918

Outside the normal order. Military

According to information received, you resolved to distribute sugar from the Gribanovsk factory to the population, disregarding the directives of the Sugar Administration. Your interference in the sphere of the exclusive authority of the Sugar Administration in the matter of distribution is completely inadmissible. I revoke the resolution of the Executive Committee and place it as an obligation on the Gribanovsk factory to strictly execute the orders of the Sugar Administration, independently of any other directives. I entrust the execution of this directive to the Chairman of the Executive Committee under his personal responsibility.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

People's Commissar for Food

Tsyurupa

TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL
OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS AND THE BUREAU OF PRESS

June 15, 1918

It is proposed that the manager of affairs of the Council of People's Commissars, the secretariat of the named Council, the head of the office, and the Bureau of Press take measures to ensure that when publishing, the date of approval of all decrees of the Council of People's Commissars is indicated.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

TELEGRAM TO S. G. SHAUMYAN

June 18, 1918

Baku, Shaumyan

Via Astrakhan and Kushka with further transmission by radiotelegraph

There has been no decree on the nationalization of the oil industry as yet. We intend to decree the nationalization of the oil industry by the end of navigation. For now we are organizing a state monopoly on the trade in petroleum products. Take all measures for the speediest export of petroleum products to the Volga. Report to the Chief Oil Administration daily on the state of the oil industry.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

DIRECTIVE TO THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS TO THE PENZA BRANCH
OF THE EXPEDITION FOR THE PREPARATION OF STATE PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH ENEMY THREAT TO PENZA

June 18, 1918

You are hereby prescribed to cease the production of currency signs and immediately, in the most urgent manner, by means of partial evacuation to Moscow, bring the Penza branch of the Expedition for the preparation of state papers into a state of complete unsuitability for printing currency signs by our enemies, but with the absolute requirement of preserving the possibility of immediate complete restoration of its work for printing, in the event of the liberation of Penza from danger, by means of the return of the evacuated material.

You answer with your life for the precise execution of this directive.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

LETTER TO V. N. PODBELSKY

June 18, 1918

Two employees in our telegraph (Kremlin, Council of People's Commissars) are requesting transfer.

One petition is here.

Is it not possible to take the other from the telegraph office itself.

Your opinion?

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MENZELINSK
SOVIET OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES

Not earlier than June 18, 1918

Immediately allow free passage for both the rafts you have placed for drying and all others which must proceed to the lower Volga for state and other sawmills. Do not under any circumstances levy any taxes or assessments. Delay in this matter causes great damage to the Soviet Republic, for which you will answer strictly before the Revolutionary Court. Report immediately by telegraph to the Council of People's Commissars on compliance.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

TELEGRAM TO THE LEADING WORKERS OF THE RYAZAN-URAL RAILWAY
RTISHCHEVO

June 28, 1918

You must completely and accurately lodge a complaint against the quite specific actions of specific persons.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

RADIOGRAM TO THE SOVIET EMBASSY
IN BERLIN

June 29, 1918

Berlin, Russian Embassy

According to a long-planned design, after extended preparatory work, finally on June 28 was approved the decree, the appearance of which the popular masses of Russia have awaited with impatience and the publication of which has been delayed by circumstances beyond the will and desire of Soviet authority.

In accordance with this decree, all industrial and commercial-industrial enterprises of the following branches of production located within the territory of the Republic are declared the property of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic: enterprises mining mineral fuel, iron and copper-ore, platinum-mining, tungsten-mining, silver-lead-ore and zinc-mining, asbestos, gold-industry enterprises, enterprises mining salt; enterprises for smelting iron and copper in raw form, obtaining semi-products from them and processing these semi-products by rolling, drawing, stamping, and chemical treatment, machine manufacturing, all sorts of aviation apparatus, mechanical vehicles, shipbuilding, locomotive, wagon, bridge and iron construction manufacturing; the manufacture of precision instruments, firearms, machine guns, artillery pieces and their parts, fittings, metal goods; enterprises for processing cotton, hemp, wool, flax, silk, jute, finishing and dyeing; enterprises of electrotechnical industry; cable factories; enterprises of lumber and woodworking industry; tobacco and makhorka enterprises; all enterprises of rubber industry, enterprises of glass, crystal, mirror, porcelain, earthenware, tableware, bottle glass and chemical glass manufacturing, enterprises of pottery, tile, ceramics, majolica and terracotta production; enterprises of shoe and leather tannery factories; cement; steam mills; enterprises serving water supply, gas, streetcars, horse railways, enterprises for sewage; enterprises of private railways and spur lines and others.

By the present decree, the majority of joint-stock and partnership companies and associations, as well as a series of the largest enterprises and factories of national significance, have passed into the property of the Soviet Republic.

The implementation of the decree is entrusted to the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

June 1918

Is it not possible to arrange it so that detachments go for bread (to procure and transport by scheduled train) under a twofold order: either for one time (to one volost, etc., for the threshing of a district, etc.) and then the bonus is smaller,

or with an obligation to work for a long time (not once, but for 3—4 months, etc., or again at the call of the Food Commissariat, etc.) and then the bonus is higher.

(In both cases, make it a condition of obligation to both procure and thresh and transport on their own to warehouses and to build warehouses or shelters, etc.).

ANNOTATIONS ON A LETTER FROM THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF EDUCATION

July 17, 1918

To the Council of People's Commissars

The Department of Extramural Education of the People's Commissariat of Education, submitting herewith a list of inventory and bedding, the first in the amount of fourteen thousand rubles, and the second in the amount of eight thousand one hundred fifty-six rubles, requests that the Council of People's Commissars issue gratis the inventory and bedding (belonging to the Military Department) for a labor commune of adolescent children without earnings and destined for labor colonies-communes in Yeletsk District, Oryol Province. The Department requests that this question be resolved today.

On behalf of the Commissar for Public Education

Mikh. Pokrovsky

Head of Department of Extramural Education

N. Ulyanova

NOTE FROM S. P. SEREDA

July 19, 1918

Comrade Sereda!

The petitioners are members of the Land Department of the Moscow Provincial Soviet of People's Deputies. I request that you receive them—the question is important. In my opinion, it is necessary to merge "Soviet farms" and communes. It is necessary to discuss practical measures of aid and control. Try to help with tractors.

Your Lenin

P.S. Discuss whether a decree of the Council of People's Commissars is needed for Moscow Province. I very much ask you to hurry.

RADIOGRAM TO TASHKENT

July 23, 1918

Tashkent, Council of People's Commissars

Report on the political and economic situation of Tashkent and the Turkestan region. It is necessary to inform regularly—Moscow, Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

CREDENTIALS FOR V. V. VOROVSKY

July 27, 1918

RUSSIAN FEDERATIVE SOVIET REPUBLIC
COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

Hereby declares that it has appointed Plenipotentiary Representative in Stockholm citizen Vatslav Vatslavovich Vorovsky.

In view of this, the Council of People's Commissars invites all and each, to whom it may concern, to recognize him in this capacity, and the competent authorities to render him the necessary assistance in the execution of the duties placed upon him and to grant him the enjoyment of all rights, privileges, and freedoms which belong to his rank.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Vl. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Moscow, July 27, 1918

RUSSIAN FEDERATIVE SOVIET REPUBLIC
COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

Hereby declares that it has appointed Plenipotentiary Representative in Copenhagen citizen Vatslav Vatslavovich Vorovsky.

In view of this, the Council of People's Commissars invites all and each, to whom it may concern, to recognize him in this capacity, and the competent authorities to render him the necessary assistance in the execution of the duties placed upon him and to grant him the enjoyment of all rights, privileges, and freedoms which belong to his rank.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Vl. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Moscow, July 27, 1918

ANNOTATION ON A NOTE FROM A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE WARSAW REVOLUTIONARY REGIMENT

July 31, 1918

Comrade Lenin! You asked me to remind you today that you promised to be at our rally of the Warsaw Red Regiment tomorrow (Thursday) at 6½ o'clock. The rally will take place at the Commercial Institute: Zamoskvorechye, Bolshaya Serpukhova Street, Stremyanny Lane. Will anything prevent you tomorrow?

Do you vouch that at 6½ they will begin?

REGARDING THE ISSUE OF SOVIET CURRENCY

NOTES TO I. E. GUKOVSKY AT THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE

July 1918

To Gukovsky

A number of complaints that you (your Commissariat) have still not provided specifications

1) complete text
2) inscriptions in all languages, etc.

Regarding the design of new currency.

I have already ordered this. But this is a trifle.

Do it or assign someone to do it tomorrow morning.

Complaints that you still have not provided the text of new currency, making difficult the preparation of samples and their testing. Provide immediately, preserving the old regarding the question of exchange for gold (with suspension of exchange by special decrees).

Make the Soviet inscription.

1) Provide available samples to the best experts.

2) Order counterfeiting of them.

3) Commission the Collegium at the People's Commissariat of Education to make drawings (of all denominations).

4) Assign Popovitsky to draw up a calculation:

(a) how much of such credit notes it will be possible to produce per month with normal, i.e., regular distribution of denominations
(a₁) on Orloff machines
(a₂) on ordinary flat machines
(a₃) high denominations (i.e., high-denomination notes) on Orloff machines, low denominations on ordinary flat machines?

(b) what is the cost of new credit notes compared with the old?

(c) when precisely will it be possible to make the plates (i.e., how many days after approval of the design) and in what timeframe to begin production of new credit notes?

(d) will the new method require new materials and auxiliary substances, etc., compared with the old?

How much will the blank cost (for all official papers of Soviet authorities)?

NOTE TO A. D. TSYURUPA

July 1918

Comrade Tsyurupa! You look ill. Without wasting time—a two-month rest. If you do not promise precisely, I will complain to the Central Committee.

Lenin

DIRECTIVE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

August 3, 1918

1) Strike off impressions of the new seal and distribute to each People's Commissar under his receipt.

2) Order such seals (in smaller size) for all Soviet institutions or bring before the Small Council for coordination of practical steps (perhaps it is possible to develop a common type of small seal, with inscriptions of individual Commissariats).

Lenin

TO THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL

August 21, 1918

The petitioners are representatives of the Turkestan Central Executive Committee. They request a detachment of 100—200 men to advance against Krasnovodsk (from Astrakhan). I request that you discuss their petition and help them in every way, and telephone me the conclusion of the Supreme Military Council.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

NOTES

Not earlier than August 26, 1918

Merchant Antonov—a large fish industry operator (Krasin knows him) brought 140 carloads of fish (where? from where?), sells it to Petrograd at 240 rubles per pood.

Gorky proposes to take this fish from him, in order to help the starving Petrograd workers.

My permission is required to transport to Petrograd:

1) need to give permission in the name of Makhlip and Antonov. Makhlin—one of the Petrograd bread dealers (Andreeva vouches that there is no speculation in this case)—and

2) pay in Petrograd at 240 rubles (without advance payments);

3) she vouches (she) that not higher than the state rate.

Gorky requests that N. M. Romanov and G. M. Romanov (blood brothers) be released on his surety.

TELEGRAM TO TAMBOV PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE
29 August 1918

I have received the following telegram from Elani: "The Seventh Company of the First Workers' and Peasants' Socialist Regiment—volunteers from Usman District, standing in the forward trenches guarding the revolution, is deeply indignant and protests against the accusations being brought and the removal of a stalwart fighter for the proletariat and the conquests of the October Revolution, the Chairman of the Usman Soviet Ispolatov. Curses upon those who have betrayed and betrayed an honest old Communist who wished only the good of the poorest peasantry and workers.—Chairman of the Committee Mokeev, Company Commander Chisyakov."

Ascertain and telegraph me immediately: by whom and on what charges is the Chairman of the Usman Soviet Ispolatov being accused.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

VIII

NOTE TO THE COMMISSARIAT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
August 1918

From Narva to Vologda approximately 600 versts.
From Vologda to Kotlas approximately 500 versts.
An airplane covers 180 versts per hour, stays in the air 5—6 hours.
The Germans could "rest" between these points.
Is your informant ??? not a sabotaging scoundrel?

LETTER TO V. D. BONCH-BRUEVICH
11848

14 September 1918

Vladimir Dmitrievich!

Here is the plan of those rooms into which Malkov wants to transfer the Council of People's Commissars.

I ask you and Lidia Aleksandrovna to inspect and consider whether it is worth it?

(1) Heating will be devilishly expensive.
(2) Will it be convenient with the reception area there?
(3) Is it not possible to remain here? i.e., will it not be excessively cold? Call the stove-maker and clarify.

Greetings!
Lenin

* The matter concerns a proposal from the Kremlin commandant N. D. Malkov to transfer the Council of People's Commissars sessions to the large Nikolaev Palace.

1917—1918
YEARS

REMARKS ON THE DRAFT DECREE ON THE TAXATION OF RURAL PROPRIETORS WITH A NATURAL TAX*
21 September 1918

N.B.

(1) Not all 2 million are kulaks.
(2) A wealthy peasant may be very well-to-do, but not an enslaver and so forth.
(3) We expropriate and confiscate the capitalist—there is no such thing for the wealthy peasant.
(4) For uprising and opposition from kulaks—confiscation.

230UJ

TELEGRAM TO THE URALS COUNCIL OF NATIONAL ECONOMY
28 October 1918

Perm, Urals Council of National Economy
Copies to: Usolye Executive Committee, Usolye Factory Administration of the Berezniki Factory

I order the Berezniki Factory to begin immediately work on organizing a radium factory in accordance with the resolution of the Supreme Council of National Economy. The necessary funds have been allocated by the Council of People's Commissars. Work must be carried out under the direction and responsibility of Engineer-Chemist Bogoyavlensky, whom I urge to render full assistance.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

10331

TO ALL PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIATS
11 November 1918

I request comrade People's Commissars to make arrangements immediately so that all information be provided to the bearer, comrade Litvinov, in view of his urgent departure and his need of this information for abroad.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* Concerning the draft decree on the taxation of rural proprietors with a natural tax, see also Lenin Collection XV III, pp. 152—155.

3*

LENIN COLLECTION

29123

NOTE TO THE MANAGER OF THE PEOPLE'S BANK*
19 November 1918

In my view, it is time to stop celebrating. It's silly!

Let us "celebrate" on 14 December with something good, proper, clever, and swift—the m e r g e r of the Cooperative Bank with the State Bank.

Lenin

3'»63

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM WITH A REQUEST FOR AN AUDIENCE
19 November 1918

Moscow, To the Chairman of the People's Commissars
Lenin

Wishing well for the entire population of Russia,
chiefly for the poor and workers, I request you
kindly to appoint me a day and hour for an audience to indicate a method for regulating and reducing
prices, as well as precise distribution of all without
exception consumer goods in the country, everywhere without queues. If you approve of the proposed
method, I express my willingness to work without
remuneration. My address: Oruzheiny Lane, 39,
Apartment 41.

Mintz

25'» 21

RESOLUTION ON THE TELEGRAM OF THE MILITARY COMMISSAR
OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN GENERAL HEADQUARTERS**
20 November 1918

Call the Center for the Repatriation of War Prisoners and record from their words w h a t t h e y 
h a v e d o n e .

* The note was written in connection with the proposal of the manager of the North Regional Office of the People's Bank to mark with festive celebration on 14 December—the anniversary of the decree on the nationalization of private banks.
* * The telegram from the station Unesha on the Bryansk Railway reported on poor organization of the movement and servicing of former war prisoners returning from Germany.
Request V. D. Bonch-Bruevich to receive this
Mintz.

1917—1918 YEARS

12077

RESOLUTION ON THE LETTER OF V. N. PODBELSKY
23 November 1918

TO THE COMMISSARIAT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

It is necessary today to establish such a center in the Council of People's Commissars. Give m e t o d a y your candidates*. 

Lenin

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

I consider it necessary to raise acutely before you the question of the state of telegraph communications on our fronts, which has such enormous significance in the course of the civil war.

All my efforts to achieve order in this area have come to nothing. I still have to deal with complete chaos reigning in the telegraph service in the Military Commissariat. It is impossible to continue working in this manner...

I point out to you the fundamental cause of the reigning chaos: in the Military Commissariat there is completely absent that plenipotentiary body or official person who would possess the fullness of authority and bear responsibility for the state of telegraph, telephone, and postal communications on the fronts. I have to deal with dozens and hundreds of institutions and individual officials, none of whom have definite rights in this area and none of whom bears any definite responsibility for their actions.

Every day we lose a huge number of telegraph operators, mechanics, supervisors, apparatus, wire, batteries, and so forth. We are poor in both technical forces in the sphere of telegraphy and telephony and in materials... The moment is approaching when we will have neither one nor the other. Meanwhile, these riches are now being squandered with inadmissible criminality, exploited in a completely unwise manner. We see chaos and crime reigning in this area, but we do not know whom to turn to for their elimination. Military authority does not obey me, and within the commissariat itself there is no person and institution that has the right and obligation to introduce order into this matter.

The postal-telegraph apparatus of the Military Commissariat has proved below criticism. At the moment of the development of the civil war, it had at its disposal neither wire nor apparatus nor living technical force. I do not doubt that treachery and sabotage played a role here. The Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs began to provide all materials and living technical force. Now this wealth is being squandered by the Military Commissariat without any system. Here too it is quite possible that a criminal line is being pursued: squander our telegraph technical forces, and then leave the front without communications.

In order to avoid reproaches to our commissariat for sabotage, up to now I have provided the front with everything that was requested, while simultaneously making heroic efforts to achieve order in the Military Commissariat in this area...

The only way out of the situation: immediately create that plenipotentiary body which would have the right to dictate authoritatively in questions of telegraph, telephone, and postal communications on the fronts. It is necessary immediately to convene a meeting of those representatives of the Military Commissariat who have the right to form such an all-powerful body. I ask you to make arrangements for the convening of such a meeting and the invitation to it of representatives of the Commissariat of Posts and Telegraphs.

* By decision of the Council of People's Commissars of 26 November 1918, the Supreme Commission for Telegraph Communications was established (protocol No. 226, item 2).

LENIN COLLECTION

2;*oН

ON THE NIZHNY NOVGOROD RADIO LABORATORY

TELEGRAMS TO NIZHNY NOVGOROD SOVIET INSTITUTIONS
COPIES TO THE MANAGER OF THE RADIO LABORATORY

29 November 1918

Nizhny Novgorod, Provincial Food Department

In view of the importance of the work performed by the Radio Laboratory, I request that there be no delay in providing food supplies.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Nizhny Novgorod, Provincial Military Committee

Permission is granted for the issuance of a soldier's ration for money to employees of the Radio Laboratory.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Nizhny Novgorod, Council of National Economy

Accelerate the receipt by the Radio Laboratory of the necessary building materials. The work is urgent and important.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the originals signed by V. I. Lenin.

TO THE SMALL SOVIET

Early December 1918

I happened to be in the theater on Sunday in a "s o v i e t" box where there were railroad workers. I think it would have been appropriate to revise the Small Soviet's resolution that we had previously revoked concerning a permanent box for the Council of People's Commissars only, so that the permanent box would be for both the Council of People's Commissars and the Moscow Soviet and the All-Russian Council of Professional Trade Unions and the Central Executive Committee. One can divide it "proportionally."

Lenin

2364В

TELEGRAM TO THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION
VOLOGDA

2 December 1918

Send several copies of the leaflet thrown by the Left Socialist Revolutionaries on 26 November from a railway car.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

ON THE USE OF THE PENZA TUBING PLANT
FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF WAR PRISONERS

23761

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM PENZA*
4 December 1918

Call the Supreme Council of National Economy and ask w h e t h e r t h e y a l l o w i t ? U r g e n t .

23733

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PENZA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
VOLKOV

4 December 1918

We permit the accommodation of war prisoners in the free premises of the tubing plant, provided there is full guarantee of unimpeded work of the operating part of the plant, preservation of all property under the responsibility of yourself and the Center for the Repatriation of War Prisoners.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

* The Chairman of the Penza Provincial Executive Committee requested the Council of People's Commissars to give permission for the temporary occupation of the free premises of a pipe plant being constructed in Penza for the accommodation there of war prisoners.

LENIN COLLECTION

·J 0 0 7

TO THE MOSCOW FOOD SOVIET

12 December 1918

I request that you issue a certificate to Aksinya Emelyanovna Kuznetsova, residing in the city of Moscow, on Tsvetny Boulevard, building No. 25 (Morozov), apartment No. 12—to the effect that the Moscow Food Soviet has nothing against permitting her to transport into Moscow her own (not purchased) grain in the q u a n t i t y o f 2 t o 4 p u d s from the Kuznetsov brothers, Dvoretsky, residing in the village of Ozerki, Venbel District, Tula Province.

I request notification of fulfillment.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

3547

RESOLUTION ON A NOTE
VIA DIRECT LINE
FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSAR FOR RAILWAYS
OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT

19 December 1918

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Comrade Lenin
18 December 1918, 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Tomorrow I am departing to the zone of the 9th Army, as I hope the situation in the zone of the 8th Army is largely settled. Kochetovka is dispersing, the southeastern [areas] are beginning to accept [transport]. In Tambov the situation is improving, the Anya-Grafskaya line will not hinder the acceptance of trains. Of course, we will have to constantly monitor Voronezh, Tambov, Kozlov, Kochetovka. Detailed instructions have been adopted for moving trains, and together with the Revolutionary Military Council of the Southern Front an order has been issued improving the situation of railroad workers... I received notice that today the question of the All-Russian Evacuation Commission is being discussed in the Council of Defense...*

Vladimirov

Why was this not transmitted to me yesterday, 18 December, before 8 p.m. and in the Council of Defense (9—12 midnight)? Q u e r y i n the switchboard and in the secretariat, i n v e s t i g a t e and f i n d t h e g u i l t y p a r t i e s .

* All-Russian Evacuation Commission.

1917—1918 YEARS

ORDER TO THE COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE*
~9U

21 December 1918

Find the person responsible for the delay and b r i n g h i m t o c o u r t without fail.

Inform me: whether anyone has been found, when the money was issued, when it was first allocated, when it was first requested?

Lenin

23768

TELEGRAM TO THE NIZHNY NOVGOROD COUNCIL OF NATIONAL ECONOMY
26 December 1918

Report on the creation of a commission for the distribution and use of longshoremen, names of commission members and members of the board of the longshoremen's professional union.

Announce to them, according to the resolution of the Council of Defense, that on their personal responsibility is laid the proper and unwavering conduct of work in unloading and the attraction of the necessary number of workers. Any actions on the part of longshoremen aimed at obstructing outsiders from taking part in unloading work will be regarded as a crime and the guilty will be subjected to responsibility from a monetary fine in the amount of one week's wages to deprivation of liberty for a term of one year.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

* The order was written on a telephonogram of the Timber Committee of the All-Russian Economic Council dated 14 December 1918 (the date is underlined in the original by V. I. Lenin) with a complaint about the delay by the Moscow Office of the People's Bank of money allocated by the Council of People's Commissars for the procurement of firewood.

LENIN COLLECTION

ON THE LIBRARY OF P. I. SURKOV

2 3073

TELEGRAM TO RODNIKI, IVANOVO-VOZNESENSK PROVINCE
TO THE FOOD COMMISSARIAT EXTRAORDINARY COMMITTEE, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, COPY TO THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION

26 December 1918

Immediately u n s e a l the storage room and guest room of Peter Ilich Surkov in the village of Putilov. Report the names of those who performed the sealing and explanation of their actions, why books are being requisitioned. Telegraph compliance.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

23677

TO RODNIKI, IVANOVO-VOZNESENSK PROVINCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
28 December 1918

Send by mail all your resolutions concerning libraries. Surkov is willing to give his over to the local workers' reading room, and this seems just to me.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

2165

TO THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT OF THE COMMISSARIAT OF POPULAR ENLIGHTENMENT
30 December 1918

I request that you receive the bearer, comrade Prokofyev. His request—to requisition Surkov's library for a district of 40,000 people—in my view is correct; perhaps it is possible to leave certain use rights with Surkov? I request that you send me a copy of your resolution on this matter, and likewise I request that you help the comrades from Rodniki in expanding their library. Would it not be possible to send them one of the requisitioned landowners' libraries? And I request that you inform me of this.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

23683

TELEGRAM TO THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSAR
FOR RAILWAYS OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT
KOZLOV

29 December 1918

I received your letter*. I request that you send me your claims against other commissariats in such a form that I can forward them for comment to all to whom the matter pertains.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

10141

NOTE TO A. M. ZHARKО IN CONNECTION WITH HIS APPOINTMENT
TO THE UKRAINIAN SOVIET GOVERNMENT

December 1918

Comrade Zharkо!

1) Where are you from?
2) Do you know Ukrainian?
3) Have you lived and worked in the Ukraine and for how many years?
4) Are the peasants in the Ukraine poor due to union with Russia or against it?**

25557

NOTE TO THE COMMISSARIAT OF LAND***

Mid-December

1) When will the brochure "Issue VI, Materials on Land Reform" be published?

* M. K. Vladimirov reported on the difficult situation of railroad transport in the Voronezh district. On the envelope of Vladimirov's letter there is a notation by V. I. Lenin: "For reference. 29 December 1918. Lenin" (Archive IMEL, doc. No. 3596).
* * In the reply note it was reported: "1) Zenkovskoe District, Poltava Province; 2) yes; 3) I am 31 years old, lived in Poltava Province until 1 December 1917, have been working since 1904; 4) they need proper attention to land and food questions, and have absolutely nothing against union."
* * * The matter concerns the publication by the Commissariat of Land of "Materials on Land Reform of 1918." Issue VI—"Expropriation and Utilization of Agricultural Inventory"—was published in 1918.

LENIN COLLECTION

2) Should the remaining issues be accelerated?
(This publication is extremely important).
3) In my view, it is necessary to supplement at least half a page with a c l e a r exposition of the policy of the Commissariat of Land (for otherwise one might fear that when "going to the people," the brochure would confuse them).

10278

RECORD DURING A RECEPTION

Ochakovo (settlement) beyond Dragomilov Gate (warehouse of liquid chlorine, phenol, etc.)—warehouse ?? of the Commissariat.
2 officials from the Military Commissariat: 1) technician, 2) official.
Approximately 30,000 poods of cylinders of liquid chlorine (steel cylinders).
Find someone who would push the matter forward (on the use of these substances).
Danger to Moscow.
Chemical Department of the Bureau of the People's Industrial Committee.
A commission was elected.
[So that textile factories and others would use them.]
Karpov should speak as a chemistry professor.
Alexander Pavlovich S h a k h n o.
Engineer-Chemist Viktorov.

NOTES TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS AND SECRETARIES OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

11318

5 April 1918

When, finally, the law on the repeal of literary conventions?*

11524

21 May 1918

Vladimir Ilyich,
Probably n o t .
A report on Cossack troops today, apparently, will not take place?

* On 22 July 1918 the Council of People's Commissars resolved: "Entrust the People's Commissariat of Justice to present to the Council of People's Commissars a report on all literary conventions concluded by Russia with foreign states, and a draft decree rescinding all conventions concluded by Russia. Approve the draft resolution on the rescission of the literary convention concluded by Russia with Germany" (protocol No. 1G2, item A).

1917—1918 YEARS


3543

18 December 1918

I request that arrangements be made for draperies to be hung and carpets laid in the Office of the Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

10258

First thoroughly freeze and disinfect the carpets and curtains, beat them out, and disinfect them.

14530

25 December 1918

I remember there was an appeal from Podvoysky to the Council of Defense*. Why is it not on the agenda?

RECORD ON GORKI**

Summer 1918

Along the Serpukhov Highway approximately 20—23 versts. Having crossed the r a i l r o a d bridge and then a second non-r a i l r o a d bridge along the highway, take the f i r s t turn to the left (also along the highway, but a s m a l l , narrow one) and drive to the village of Gorki (Gorki—the former estate of Reinbot).
Altogether from Moscow approximately 40 versts.

* The matter concerns a petition from N. I. Podvoysky concerning the inclusion of a representative of the Higher Military Inspection in the commission for finding premises for the Red Army. On 25 December 1918 the Council of Defense resolved to include in the commission a representative of the Higher Military Inspection with advisory status.
* * V. I. Lenin often stayed in Gorki. He lived there after being wounded in 1918. In subsequent years Gorki was Lenin's favorite place of rest. From spring 1923 he lived there almost constantly until the day of his death—21 January 1924.

LENIN COLLECTION

103 05

NOTES ON SHALE

1918—1919

Geologist Gubkin (in the Fuel Department).
Shale exists in Syzran and in Kazan Province and in our part of Yamburg District.
30 million rubles (100 billion poods)
Zvansiger—engineer from Petersburg (still here), (plus?) practical experience; they say the same.

1919
YEAR

ON LOCAL COUNCILS OF DEFENSE*
24281

TELEGRAM TO THE ASTRAKHAN PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
CITY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, PARTY COMMITTEE

3 January 1919

In response to your statement concerning the organization of a Council of Defense in Astrakhan, the Council of Defense of the Republic declares that there is no need for the establishment of local Councils of Defense.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

* On 2 January 1919 the Council of Defense, having heard a report from I. V. Stalin on the creation of local Councils of Defense, particularly in Astrakhan, entrusted comrade Stalin with "drawing up a telegram to the effect that there is no need to create local Councils of Defense" (protocol 10, item 9).

4 Lenin Collection X X X V

LENIN COLLECTION

422 Ь2

RESOLUTION AND NOTATIONS ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE SAMARA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
4 February 1919

5 addresses. Moscow; Central Executive Committee, Council of Defense,
Council of People's Commissars, Commissariat of Internal Affairs, Commissariat of Military Affairs

In view of the acuteness of the moment being lived through, requiring the mobilization of all forces, chiefly in questions of transport, food supply, and military matters,
at the presidency of the Provincial Executive Committee a Council of Defense of Samara Province has been organized consisting of the presidency of the Provincial Executive Committee,
t h e P r o v i n c i a l M i l i t a r y C o m m i s s a r , Provincial Food Commission, the Chairman of the Provincial Council of National Economy, the Chairman of the City Executive Committee, and the Railroad Commissar. The resolutions of the Council of Defense carry a binding character within the limits of Samara Province.

To Sverdlov: f o r h e a v e n ' s s a k e , a v o i d t h i s s t u p i d i t y .

24285

ANSWER TO THE TELEGRAM OF THE CRAFTSMEN AND WORKERS
OF GORKINO STATION

5 January 1919

Gorkino, Northern Railway
To Ryabinin, Chairman of the General Assembly of Craftsmen and Workers

The elected representatives may come whenever they wish. I will try to receive them personally, and if I cannot, then through my secretary.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

* On 5 February 1919 the Council of Defense adopted the following resolution: "Inasmuch as the Council of Defense of Samara Province is an interdepartmental conference whose existence is caused by local conditions, it may continue its work provided that it does not run counter to the Constitution of the Republic. But in view of the fact that its functions are not homogeneous with the functions of the Council of Defense of the Republic, and the name 'Council of Defense' may give rise to misunderstanding, the Council of Defense of the Republic proposes to the Samara comrades to drop the name 'Council of Defense of Samara Province'" (protocol No. 17, item 11).

1919 YEAR

3661

Moscow Council of People's Commissars Lenin

We, employees, craftsmen, and workers of Gorkino Station on the Northern Railway, at a general meeting found it necessary to address you with a request to permit us to send our elected representatives to explain urgent needs. We request notification of your consent to receive them and when exactly.

Chairman of the General Assembly Ryabinin
Secretary Nesterekhin

NOTATION ON A TELEPHONOGRAM
ABOUT A COUP IN POLAND

2311$

7—8 January 1919

A telegram has just been received from Minsk: a coup has occurred in Warsaw, the government has been arrested. The coup was organized by the Endeks at the head of Paderewski. But the next day "loyal units" arrested General Yanushaitsky and the new government and freed the old. Paderewski demanded that Pilsudski form a government from the three parts of Poland. He refused, and then a coup occurred.

So the coup has been overturned?

24272

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE SAMARA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
10 January 1919

Moscow, Council of Defense, copy to the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic

A mass of demands is coming into the Provincial Executive Committee for the allocation of sums for the construction of bridges burned by the White Guards. The Provincial Executive Committee has no funds.

We request the allocation of five hundred thousand.

To the Small Soviet
I request urgently.

4 *

LENIN COLLECTION

243 11

TELEGRAM TO THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT
OF THE COMMISSARIAT OF POPULAR ENLIGHTENMENT
TO THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT KUDRYAVSKY

PETROGRAD

13 January 1919

Protect the Struve library, located in the Polytechnic Institute, from pillage. Transfer especially valuable items to the Public Library, the remainder to the Polytechnic Institute. The portrait of Gerd, a work of Yaroshenko, is to be transferred to Nina Aleksandrovna Struve through the director of the Polytechnic Institute.

Report compliance by telegraph.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

2377 6

TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
18 January 1919

I hereby order you to report to me immediately on all complaints received at the Office of the Council of People's Commissars against all government institutions and persons, with written complaints to be reported to me within twenty-four hours and oral complaints within forty-eight hours.

A special registry of such complaints must be established in the Office, and the responsibility is placed on the manager of the Office's chancellery for careful supervision of the fulfillment of my resolutions on these complaints.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

1919 YEAR

3728

ORDER TO THE COMMISSARIAT OF JUSTICE*
18 January 1919

To Kursky: I request that you immediately designate a most rigorous investigation.

Lenin

24331

TELEGRAM TO THE SAMARA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
27 January 1919

Samara, Provincial Executive Committee

Immediately send to Moscow all materials against the Right Socialist Revolutionary Alexander Mikhailovich Smirnov, report the reasons for his arrest, verify his statement about his desire to work with Soviet power against Kolchak, grant Smirnov for now the most favorable conditions of arrest**.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

3767

RESOLUTION ON THE STATEMENT OF THE WRITER
A. I. SVIRSKY***

27 January 1919

To Kursky: I request that you designate an investigation.

* The order was written on a telegram from representatives of State Control reporting to the Council of People's Commissars about the damage to 6 railway cars of potatoes at the freight station of the Moscow-Kursk Railway.
* * The telegram was sent by V. I. Lenin in connection with the receipt from Samara of a report from the plenipotentiary of the Council of Defense that a Right Socialist Revolutionary A. M. Smirnov had been arrested in Samara, who had come to Samara with a confession and declared his intention to work in the Soviet Republic against Kolchak.
There is a notation on this document by V. I. Lenin: "For reference. Telegram of 27 January" (Archive IMEL, doc. No. 3792).
* * * A. I. Svirsky complained of unlawful actions and derisive treatment by the house administration. Having reviewed this complaint, the Small Council of People's Commissars resolved: "Refer to the presidency of the Moscow Soviet to take urgent measures to satisfy citizen Svirsky's just demands and bring the guilty to responsibility. Keep the Small Soviet informed of the decision" (protocol No. 208, item 7).

LENIN COLLECTION

14569

ON PREPARATION FOR SPRING NAVIGATION

DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE, ADOPTED
AT THE MEETING OF 31 JANUARY 1919

Require that the following be worked out and printed:

1) forms of reports (within a week)
on their condition in general, including steamships and barges
on the % of repair completed
and so forth.

2) the same for summer navigation.

3) Warn all anchorages that failure to submit reports by 15 February will result in the managers and anchoring-place committees being brought to trial.

4) Present a complete report, a summary of all information on the procurement of fuel (within a week).

42261

NOTATIONS ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE MOZYR REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE

9 February 1919

? Should it be? To Sverdlov: Would it not be better
to arrange for it to be set up locally?*

... Ovruch presents the appearance of a devastated city, there are no inhabitants. During the period of occupation by the Petlyurist authorities many peaceful residents were shot, property was plundered. Such a picture unfolds along the entire line of Ovruch and Korostyel. White Guards continue their underground work, conduct Black Hundred antisemitic nationalist agitation... It is necessary urgently to send a supreme investigating commission to clarify everything that has happened. In the Ovruch and Korostyel zone it is necessary to organize aid to citizens, families are starving...

* Y. M. Sverdlov sent the chairman of the Revkom in Mozyr a telegram proposing the organization of an investigating commission on the spot.

1910 YEAR

17236

TELEGRAM TO THE COMMISSAR OF THE LUGANSK
AMMUNITION PLANT

15 February 1919

Urgent

Lugansk, Ammunition Plant, to Commissar Menyailo

Urgently telegraph which materials exactly, in what quantities are necessary for the maximum development of ammunition production. Can you conduct production with the present personnel, what specialists and how many does the plant still need. Can you recruit the workers necessary to increase production to one and one-half million daily. Send a detailed written report on available materials and products.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

3837

SANITARY REGULATIONS FOR KREMLIN RESIDENTS
18 February 1919

In order to prevent the development of contagious diseases, in the interests of general well-being, the residents of the Kremlin are requested:

1. Of each case of suspected contagious disease (with fever) or skin rash, immediately notify the Kremlin Sanitary Inspection Office (Ascension Monastery, apartment No. 7) with detailed address indicated.

2. All arrivals (by railroad) before occupying premises—wash in a bathhouse and submit their clothing to the disinfector (at the bathhouse). (Those with a bath in their apartment should immediately call the disinfector to the home to receive the items.)

3. Observe personal cleanliness and in the premises.

4. Notify the Kremlin Sanitary Inspection Office of all noted sanitary deficiencies and comply with the directives of the Kremlin Sanitary Inspection to eliminate them.

5. Those failing to comply with the sanitary regulations will immediately be evicted from the Kremlin and brought to trial for inflicting public harm.

6. Both civilian and military population of the Kremlin are subject to sanitary inspection.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

24789

TELEGRAM TO THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS OF THE UKRAINE
KHARKIV

18 February 1919

Kharkov statisticians have appealed to the Manager of the Central Statistical Administration comrade Popov with a proposal to enter into communication with the Ukrainian Soviet government on the question of organizing statistics for the Ukraine following the model of the state statistics of the Soviet Republic—Russia. Should you agree, comrade Popov could be delegated to the Ukraine for the stated purpose. I request a telegraphic reply*.

Lenin

40306

DIRECTIVE
19 February 1919

Hereby I order Commissar A. D. Tsyurupa, in view of his resuming work and the necessity of protecting state property, to strictly observe precautions:

do not work more than two hours without a break.

do not work later than 10 p.m.

do not receive the public.

Follow the restrictive directives of Lidia Aleksandrovna Fotieva w i t h o u t qu e s t i o n .

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin. The final sentence is in his handwriting.

1919 YEAR

23778

NOTATION ON A LETTER FROM THE COMMUNE OF WATER TRANSPORT WORKERS*
20 February 1919

Kremlin, To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Comrade Lenin, V. I.

Dear Comrade Vladimir Ilyich,

It would be very desirable to name after you
I have no objection.
our first organizing commune Lenin.
of water transport workers in the building No. 3
on Lubyanka Square. Do not refuse to inform the
communal council of your consent.

ON THE CLOSURE OF THE MENSHEVIK NEWSPAPER
UNDERMINING THE DEFENSE OF THE COUNTRY

44883

DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE**
22 February 1919

Taking into consideration:

1) that the Menshevik newspaper "Always Forward" in its issue of 20 February 1919 in the article "Stop the Civil War" has finally proved its counter-revolutionary direction;

2) that the slogan "down with the civil war," directly put forward now by this newspaper at such a time when the armies of landlords and capitalists, led by Kolchak, occupy not only Siberia but also Perm, is tantamount to support for Kolchak and an obstacle to the workers and peasants of Russia bringing to victory their war with Kolchak;

3) that in this manner the Mensheviks, having condemned in their party meeting resolution the predominant number of party Mensheviks implementing alliance with the propertied classes, that is, with landlords and capitalists in Siberia, in Arkhangelsk, on the Volga, in Georgia and in the South, in fact are now beginning to conduct the same policy, hypocritically repudiating it in words;

4) that those Mensheviks who, not being hypocritical friends of landlords and capitalists, display again spineless vacillation, leading them to serve Kolchak;

5) that Soviet power, at the moment of the last, decisive, and most acute armed struggle against the armies of landlords and capitalists cannot tolerate in itself people unwilling to bear the heavy hardships together with the workers and peasants fighting for a just cause;

6) that the aspirations of such people are again and again directed toward Kolchak's democracy, where the bourgeoisie and its hangers-on live so well,—

The Central Executive Committee resolves:

a) to close the newspaper "Always Forward" until such time as the Mensheviks prove by their deeds their determination to break consistently with Kolchak and firmly to stand for the defense and support of Soviet power;

b) to take all preparatory measures so that Mensheviks interfering with the victory of workers and peasants over Kolchak be expelled to the territories of Kolchak's democracy.

35597

NOTE TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

F i r s t q u e s t i o n t h e m: we, that is, the Presidium, are willing to give consideration to your request if you agree to explain what concrete steps you have undertaken and are undertaking in the direction defined by the Central Executive Committee resolution (concerning "Stop the Civil War" and the closure of "Always Forward"*).

2570

CERTIFICATE
24 February 1919

I certify that the comrade representatives of the Danilov Manufactory were with me on the question of issuing them a manufactory ration. In view of the fact that this question has been decided by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee, which according to the Constitution is superior to the Council of People's Commissars, neither I, as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, nor the Council of People's Commissars have the right to alter the decision.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* The newspaper was closed on 26 February 1919.

1910 YEAR

24364

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RUDNYA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
COPY TO MOGILEV, PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

26 February 1919

I can receive you if not myself, then through my secretary. In my view, the plan of the Communists of Mikulinskoye Volost is not bad, but it would be desirable to have at least a brief written opinion from Orshy and Mogilev on the reasons for their negative attitude*.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

3694

NOTE TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSAR OF FOOD SUPPLY
February 1919

1) Can you help Yuzhа?**
2) If you don't know, when can you answer tomorrow morning?
3) I had from them an excellent worker, promising workers: specify which ones and how many are needed.

The village of Yuzhа, Vyaznikovsky District, Vladimir Province,
Committee of Bolsheviks (delegate Borzov).

* The Chairman of the Rudnya Executive Committee of Mikulinskoye Volost of Orshy District of Mogilev Province sent V. I. Lenin a telegram requesting him to receive him for a conversation about the organization by Communists of Mikulinskoye Volost of a workers' cooperative. The telegram also reported that the leaders of the district and provincial organizations of Orshy and Mogilev responded negatively to the plan of the Mikulinsky Communists. On the telegram there is a notation by V. I. Lenin: "To archive. Answered by telegram 26 February" (Archive IMEL, doc. No. 3874).
* * The matter concerns food supply to workers of the Yuzhа state textile factory.

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTES TO THE SECRETARY*
4 March 1919

17615

O n e c a n n o t b y p a s s d e c r e e s: for making such a proposal alone one is brought to trial. But one can carry through the Central Executive Committee an exemption and I advise this.

2 
3929

One must know the law: I don't remember t h r o u g h w h o m exemptions go.

243 6 8

TELEGRAM TO THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION
FOR COMBATING SPECULATION

STATION SHARYA

15 March 1919

Workers of the state sawmill Ivan Kulikov and Elena Grigoryeva complain of confiscation from them of 7 poods of rye for 14 dependents. Report the reason.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

* The Secretary of the Council of People's Commissars appealed to V. I. Lenin requesting the reception for work in the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars a new employee, recommended by the bureau of the collective. The Manager of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars objected to this, citing the decree "On the Limitation of Simultaneous Service of Relatives in Soviet Institutions." In connection with this the secretary wrote to V. I. Lenin that the employee recommended by the collective is "a very valuable worker and we are particularly interested in getting her because we have very few good workers. Can't one bypass the decree?".

1919 YEAR

41101

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER
ON THE CLEARING OF SNOW FROM MOSCOW STREETS

27 March 1919

Dear Comrades! Answer, under what decree were the residents of the Vulfovich building driven out at 2 a.m. to clear the snow in front of their building...

Residents were not notified in time that the snow needed to be cleared. They learned of it only when they came to the apartments and woke them.
Residents were threatened with six months in prison if they did not go out to work. But what turned out?
Residents went out to work, but there were tools only for V» of those who went out to work, */10 had to stand and watch.

In my opinion—one should not act so harshly and without thought, but rather in each building establish a labor rotation schedule for clearing snow in front of one's building. This order would be something to be welcomed. If they continue to drive residents from their apartments to work in this way, then robberies may occur as a result. One of the participants in the work for the period 11—12 March.

To the Moscow Soviet
I request [this be read at the plenary session of the City Soviet and taken note of and as guidance].
Lenin

4249 3

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM CITIZENS
OF YAGANOVO VOLOST OF CHEREPOVETS PROVINCE*

2 April 1919

The completion of the construction of the church is of course permitted; I request you to go to Commissar of Justice comrade Kursky, with whom I have just spoken on the telephone, for instructions.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* In the letter addressed to V. I. Lenin it was reported: "In accordance with the decree on the separation of church from state we have taken according to the attached act all church and monastery property together with an unfinished stone church and materials prepared for its construction. To leave it unfinished appears to be loss to the parish, since an uncovered church is subject to destruction from spring rains, besides which it would be very desirable to complete the construction of the church for the reason that the old wooden church has become dilapidated and threatens collapse. In view of the above we most respectfully request you, Comrade Chairman, to permit us to complete the construction of the church."

24379

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM A DELEGATE
OF THE KHUTORANS OF BUKHANOVO

3 April 1919

To Chairman Lenin

The khutorans of Bukhanovo of Galkinskaya Volost,
Medynsky District, Kaluga Province, formed in
1914, do not enjoy the rights of other citizens, suffer
oppression, our khutors are being ruined. We can
no longer exist. If you find it necessary, permit us
to appear before you and substantiate our words with
documents.

Permit him to come.

4042

NOTATIONS
ON A LETTER FROM A. A. VERMISHEV

Not before 6 April 1919

Author of the play.
The play under the motto: "Being determines the forms of consciousness."

Alexander Aleksandrovich Vermishev, Petrograd

Dear Leader and Comrade Vladimir Ilyich,

I very much request you to find time and review the accompanying work... Carrying out work on transport, I have taken from myself 1 nights and written this play for a proletarian theater... I very much request that on this experience of creativity on a contemporary theme in the heat of battle you put your resolution...*

* On 16 April the secretary of the Council of People's Commissars on V. I. Lenin's instruction informed A. A. Vermishev that the play "Red Truth" had been sent for review to three literary editors. Their opinion was as follows: 1) as an agitational weapon the play should act powerfully, especially where they experienced the civil war. 2) In the artistic respect it suffers from length, artificial speech, in places bookish language. It is subject to some stylistic cleanup, cuts. 3) For capital stages it is not very suitable, but for going into the masses—it is good.
On the document there is a subsequent notation by V. I. Lenin: "To archive for reference."

1919 YEAR

4112

DIRECTIVE TO THE SECRETARY ON A TELEGRAM FROM
KALMYK BALKA

After 8 April 1919

Moscow, To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Comrade Lenin

Stand on guard for the Call Sedov and 
toiling masses, answer us on telegram No. Yo2*, send us seeds. [other text] say how it's
Shiroka, Predispolkoma being done.
Tsibizov, Manager of the Food Department Mitrokhin.

4001

TO THE LODEYNOE POLE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
9 April 1919

From the attached certificate it is evident that citizens Sorokin and Minin submitted hides in 1918 as they say. Up to now they have received neither hides nor money.

I order that an investigation be conducted immediately and that an exact report be sent to me about when the petitioners were satisfied and who is guilty of the delay or failure to return the goods.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from a typewritten copy.

24407

TELEGRAM TO THE MILITARY COMMISSAR OF THE VI ARMY
VOLOGDA

16 April 1919

Permission to release prisoners is granted**.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

* In this telegram of 8 April 1919 the Shiroka Volost Food Committee requested V. I. Lenin to order the étape commandant of Kalmyk Balka to release by way of a loan from his available reserves 1,718 poods of wheat for seeding the fields of 77% of the volost's citizens. With the restoration of the overland route the food committee obligated itself to return what had been taken from the account of seeds allocated to it by the Nikolaevsk District Food Committee (Astrakhan Province) (Archive IMEL, doc. No. 4113).
* * The Military Commissar of the VI Army in a telegram of 16 April 1919 requested permission to release into the territory of the enemy prisoners supplied with political literature.

LENIN COLLECTION

24780

TELEGRAM TO THE KALUGA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
COPY TO MOSALSK, DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

18 April 1919

Immediately conduct an investigation into the reasons for the seizure of property from the parents of the people's teacher Burykhin in Spas-Demensk, Mosalsk District. Investigate the actions of Commissar Sinitsyn, village Lazansk. Report the results directly to me.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

24412

NOTATION ON A TELEGRAM FROM DELEGATES
OF PASSENGERS ACCUMULATED
AT STATION ARZAMAS

19 April 1919

Moscow, Kremlin, to Comrade Lenin

To Markov by telephone and record
Comrade Lenin, we request your help in getting from Station Arzamas to Moscow. We passengers have accumulated in great numbers, some have been waiting eight days. Some of us are sick. Help us.

the answer.

24422

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE OF URALSK

20 April 1919

Moscow. Out of all turn.
Central Executive Committee, copies to Council of People's Commissars, Commissariat of Internal Affairs, Party Central Committee, Russian Telegraph Agency

P u b l i s h

From the Revolutionary Committee of Lbischensk, Comrade Dmitry Yakovlev, while in the front line, was wounded in the defense of Lbischensk. Unwilling to surrender to the enemy, he shot himself. Yakovlev—a prominent worker since 1905, fought heroically throughout the time until the taking of Uralsk.—From the Revolutionary Committee Iv. Ulyanov

THE YEAR 1919

4087
TO THE EDITORIAL OFFICE OF PRAVDA
25 April 1919

Print this with detailed calm analysis, proving in detail that such vacillations of the Socialist Revolutionaries in the direction of the kulak and secession from Russia, i.e., the splintering of forces in the face of Kolchak and Denikin, objectively lead to aiding the bourgeoisie and Kolchak.

Lenin

43710
SAFE CONDUCT FOR V. I. TANEEV*

26 April 1919

On the basis of a decree of the Council of People's Commissars of 25 March 1919, this safe conduct is issued to citizen Vladimir Ivanovich Taneev, 78 years old, who for many years has worked in scholarship and, according to the testimony of Karl Marx, has shown himself a "devoted friend of the people's liberation."

Citizen Vladimir Ivanovich Taneev is granted the right to visit the library of the Council of People's Commissars, and all other state libraries are instructed to render him every possible assistance in his scholarly work and research. All Soviet authorities are prescribed to render citizen Vladimir Ivanovich Taneev assistance in the matter of protection of both himself and his family, his residence and his property. In the event of his travel throughout the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, all railway and steamship authorities are prescribed to render citizen Vladimir Ivanovich Taneev and his family possible assistance in obtaining train tickets and providing seats on trains.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

2031
NOTE TO I. V. STALIN AND OTHER MEMBERS 
OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

15 May 1919

Tsyurupa receives 2,000 rubles, family of 7 people, meals at 12 rubles (and supper), per day 84 x 30 = 2,520 rubles.

They are not getting enough to eat! They take 4 meals, this is insufficient. The children are adolescents, they need more than an adult.

I request to increase his salary to 4,000 rubles and to give in addition a one-time allowance of 5,000 rubles to the family, which has arrived from Ufa without clothing.

I request a reply.

Lenin

13578
ON THE WAGES OF SPECIALISTS

DRAFT DECREE

23 May 1919

Decisions taken by the Commission of the Council of People's Commissars at the session of 23 May 1919:

1. Salaries above 3,000 rubles are assigned by the collegium of each Commissariat and, having been reported to the People's Commissars of Labour and State Control, are submitted for approval to the Council of People's Commissars.

2. Each People's Commissariat is obligated within one week to submit a list of all employees receiving above 3,000 rubles per month.

3. Each People's Commissariat is obligated within one week to submit a list of the most outstanding specialists and distinguished organizers who need to be paid above 3,000 rubles. The collegium of each Commissariat must state for each person: 1) its vouching that he is an outstanding specialist in such-and-such a field; 2) what exactly outstanding organizational work he performs or is capable of performing.

4. On 15 June only those will receive the 3,000-ruble standard and above whose salary has been approved by the Council of People's Commissars.

5. The deadline for approval of salaries by the Council of People's Commissars is determined not to exceed one week from the time of submission of the salary for approval.

6. Rapporteurs: Lenin and Krasin.

7. Avanesov is obligated to present to the Council of People's Commissars tomorrow, 24 May, theses or principles concerning payment above 3,000 rubles, but not for the most outstanding specialists.

I request this to be typed in 6-7 copies.

11768
RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM FACTORY REPRESENTATIVES

6 June 1919

Write down their telephone number and address.

I request you to come at half-past one. If I personally cannot receive you, then the secretary will.

8352
NOTE TO E. M. SKLYARSKY

11 June 1919

1) Absolutely immediately appoint (and carry through to completion) an investigation—who misled you, downplaying the disaster. This is after all treason.

2) All measures must be taken and special attention paid to the speed of movement of the 6 regiments from the Eastern Front.

After all, comrade Sklyarsky, you actually turned out to be guilty of the delay!

Answer me, what exactly have you done on both points.

Lenin

10360
NOTE TO N. V. PETROVSKAYA

12 June 1919

You write that you could and even "will have the right to be" reproached with falsehood if I do not give confirmation that you visited me in prison 22 years ago. I apologize that I have forgotten much from that time, but my sister confirms it definitely, and I recall that there were visits—please excuse me for forgetting the name. Therefore, on no account on the basis of my poor memory should anyone have the right to reproach you. I hope you will forgive me that I am unable to receive you, owing to a number of especially urgent matters.

Sincerely respecting you

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

4300 and 42501
NOTE TO AN INVESTIGATOR

14 June 1919

Petrograd, Gorokhovaya 2

To Investigator Yudin

I request you to review the enclosed material and report to me what data you have against Petrovskaya and whether there are any suspicions against her. I request the enclosed material to be returned.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

24558
TELEGRAM TO THE PETROGRAD SOVIET AND I. V. STALIN

PETROGRAD

20 June 1919

I request the immediate release from military service of twenty-six reserve officers from the State Paper Manufacturing Expedition and, as directed by the latter, do not prevent their departure to Moscow. Also bring to the attention of comrade Ivanov and others that the Expedition as well as the Ognera plant are being evacuated by order of the Council of Defence, and therefore no one should place any obstacles in the way of the evacuation of the designated workers, employees, as well as machines and other equipment.

Chairman of the Council of Defence

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

24587
TELEGRAM TO THE POLITICAL COMMISSARIAT 
OF THE 26TH FIELD CONSTRUCTION

TO THE C[HAIRMAN] OF THE C[OUNCIL OF] D[EFENCE]

28 June 1919

It is necessary to apply to the Regional Military Commissariat. Moreover, according to information, the twenty-sixth construction is on the Caucasus-Caspian Front. Telegraph more precisely.

Chairman of the Council of Defence

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

21825
TELEGRAM TO THE SARATOV PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

2 July 1919

Saratov, Provincial Executive Committee

Copy to Chief Commissar Ryazan-Ural Railway Stepanov

The Council of Defence fully welcomes the decision on the organization of entrenchment work and requests its most vigorous implementation, but with respect to absolutely essential railway workers proposes to carry out removal by agreement with the chief commissar of the Ryazan-Ural Railway Stepanov.

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

4326
RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM CONCERNING MILITARY OPERATIONS 
IN THE CITY OF BALASHOV

8 July 1919

Comrade Podbelsky!

Append your opinion of Balandin

Lenin

Moscow. Kremlin Council of Defence
Copy to the Central Committee RCP(b)

From Saratov. Urgent, out of turn. Balashov was retaken by us on the sixth at 12 noon. The opponent fled in panic, having failed to evacuate anything—army warehouses. Balashov was again taken by us from the direction of Elan. From station Pad they report artillery fire from the direction of station Romanovka. Simultaneously we report: the head of the sanitary division of Saratov institutions and member of the Revolutionary Military Council Balandin, sitting in Serdobsk, continue to spread panic, have ordered evacuation from Serdobsk to Penza. Stop both of them, as there is no basis for evacuation yet.

Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee

Zenkov
Plenipotentiary to the Central Executive Committee
Yaroslavsky

1919

24937
TELEGRAM TO N. K. KRUPSKAYA

10 July 1919

Kazan, Ulyanova

Everyone is in good health. Today I saw Gorky, tried to persuade him to go on your steamship, about which I have already sent one telegram to Nizhny, but Gorky categorically refused. We are giving Pokrovsky time off to rest. We have temporarily appointed Menzhinsky as his replacement. I received your letter from Uretsky and sent a reply with him. Do you have Moscow newspapers?

Lenin

24605
RESOLUTION ON TELEGRAM FROM M. V. FRUNZE

11 July 1919

Military urgent
Moscow, Council of People's Commissars to comrade Lenin

At twelve o'clock today the blockade of Uralsk was lifted. Our forces have entered the city.

Commander of the Southern Group Frunze

To press.

26316
TELEGRAM TO ALL PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMITTEES

COPIES TO ALL HEADS OF PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

19 July 1919

Circular

In connection with the mobilizations of food supply organs staffs, many food workers are leaving and continuing to leave, which leads to weakening of the activity of supply organs.

In view of this, in order to strengthen the work of food organs, the Council of People's Commissars and the Council of Defence have decided to grant the right to Comfood and its organs to detail in their disposition the most valuable workers of other institutions. In cases of disagreement between food organs and departments on the question of detailing, disputes should be resolved by the heads of provincial executive committees, who should be guided by the particular importance of food organ work at the given moment. In cases where agreement cannot be reached locally, one should apply to the Council of People's Commissars with motivated communications. We propose to immediately carry out the decree of the Council of People's Commissars and the Council of Defence and report periodically—no less than once a week—to Comfood on detailings of workers from other institutions in the disposition of food organs, as well as on increases or decreases in food workers.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Defence

Lenin

People's Commissariat of Food Supply

Tsyurupa

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin and A. D. Tsyurupa.

10240
NOTE ON AN INVITATION TO ATTEND THE CONGRESS 
OF BELARUSIAN REFUGEES

19 July 1919

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Comrade Lenin

Tomorrow, 20 July—The All-Russian Congress of Refugees from Belarus, which opened on 17 July of this year, has elected You as its honorary chairman, as leader of the working people.

Informing you of this, the congress requests you to honour it with your presence.

19: from 4 to 11;
20: from 10 to 2; from 4 to—

At the Spiritual Seminar, Karetn Lane.

24631
NOTE ON A TELEGRAM FROM V. M. MOLOTOV

31 July 1919

Moscow, People's Commissariat of Food Supply
Copy Council of Defence Lenin

Sarapul, 30 July. A joint conference of responsible instructors traveling by steamer "Red Star" and the Sarapul District Revolutionary Committee with responsible workers considers it absolutely necessary, in the interests of successful food procurement in the Prikamye district, not to move the Oprodkomarм 2 organization from its position and supports the telegram of People's Commissariat of Food Supply instructor Bobrov, proposes to strengthen for Oprodkomarм 2 the procurement district now occupied by it. In a short time Oprodkomarм has restored procurements reaching 150 thousand puds of grain and two thousand head of livestock. In the event of the departure of this organization, procurements in Prikamye will be reduced to nothing.

Political Commissar of the "Red Star" Molotov

Connect with Tsyurupa.

8350
TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC

Summer 1919

I know one comrade thoroughly as a man of completely exceptional devotion, courage and energy (especially concerning explosions and bold raids).

I propose:

(1) To give him the opportunity to study command matters (take all measures to speed this up, especially by lectures and so forth)—what can be done?

(2) To entrust him with organizing a special detachment for explosions etc. in the rear of the enemy.

This concerns the well-known Bolshevik revolutionary Kamo (A. Ter-Petrosyan).

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSION 
ON SIBERIAN AFFAIRS

To the Council of People's Commissars

Owing to insufficient agitation and propaganda literature available, as well as its unsuitability for Siberia, the Commission on Siberian Affairs has established a special literary section, which must in the shortest time prepare for printing a series of brochures, leaflets and posters of an agitational character...

IN THE AGRICULTURAL SUBSECTION 
OF THE FOOD SUPPLY DEPARTMENT OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET

23 August 1919

Having received from you samples of fruits from Soviet estates with notification No. 4936 (of 22 August 1919), I humbly request that you do not do this in the future—do not send fruits and the like, but report to me the data on how in general fruits and the like are distributed from Soviet estates, whether they are given to hospitals, sanatoriums, children, where exactly, how much exactly. How many Soviet estates do you have, the composition of management in them, how many send reports, how many have sent reports and for what period, etc.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

19710
ON THE INTRODUCTION OF INDIVIDUAL MANAGEMENT 
IN THE CENTRAL TEXTILE TRUST IN PLACE OF COLLEGIAL MANAGEMENT

DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

4 September 1919

1) Entrust the Supreme Council of the National Economy to gradually carry out the reduction of the number of collegium members, in particular to clarify the experience of individual management either by Communists or by specialists under Communist commissars.

2) Along with collegial discussion and decision, to steadfastly carry out individual responsibility for the execution both of defined types of work and of separate operations.

3) Appoint within 2 months a report from the Supreme Council of the National Economy and other commissariats having enterprises on the actual implementation of these assignments (in particular on the number of workers learning management practically and their length of service in this regard).

24656
TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMEN OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES 
OF VASILYEVSKAYA AND NEDASHINSKAYA VOLOSTS 
OF TIKHVIN DISTRICT

6 September 1919

Under threat of immediate arrest of the entire Executive Committee, I order [you] to stop the removal of agents and workers of the Stromat Society and Marinsky Partnership. Arrange to place no obstacles to the procurement of firewood by the named organizations. A commission to investigate this matter is leaving Moscow.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

24656
TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHEREPOVETS 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COPY TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVINCIAL FOREST COMMITTEE

6 September 1919

Under threat of your personal responsibility and immediate arrest, I order you to arrange to place no obstacles to the procurement of firewood by the Stromat Society and the Marinsky Partnership. Immediately stop the removal of agents and workers of these organizations from Vasilyevskaya and Nedashinskaya volosts. A commission to investigate this matter is being sent from Moscow.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

TELEGRAM TO PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMITTEES

SAMARA, KAZAN, UFA, PERM, VYATKA

SARAPUL—TO THE PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMITTEE

8 September 1919

The hungry North has once again entered a period of food difficulties, but one even more grave, more exceptional, unprecedented in scale. There is absolutely no grain in Moscow, Petrograd and other proletarian districts; the insignificant reserves of military units are running out, especially those of the Western Front. A menacing moment of new food trials in the face of the final attempts of the enemy to introduce disorder in the deep rear, taking advantage of the ongoing food difficulties, imperiously demands the taking of emergency measures—without delay of a single hour, [demands] the transportation to the centre of the required quantity of grain. Without delay, outside all normal order, send all grain at present available that has been procured by you to Moscow, to the address of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, while simultaneously strengthening the strictness of the application of all measures prescribed by our telegram of 15 July No. 1104/t.

I propose that during September, besides shipments by barge according to requisitions, grain collection points on each passing passenger or mixed passenger-freight steamer headed toward Nizhny [Novgorod] should automatically load, without preliminary negotiations, in the address of the Nizhny Food Supply Commissariat, whatever quantity of grain is available at the moment of the steamer's passage.

We propose that receipt of this order be reported, along with reports of measures taken and the time of each shipment, to the People's Commissariat of Food Supply without delay by direct wire.

Chairman of the Council of Defence

Lenin

People's Commissariat of Food Supply

Tsyurupa

Printed from a typwritten copy.

24668
TELEGRAM TO PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

COPY TO PROVINCIAL FOREST COMMITTEES

24 September 1919

Outside all normal order

Large quantities of unloaded firewood and forest materials are located at water endpoints of the log drive. Owing to the shortness of time before freezing, I propose immediately to take all measures for the removal of both firewood and logs that have arrived at the final points and those in transit, on which there is no hope of further floating. Utilize labour conscription of the population and military units. All timber, whatever its intended destination, must under the personal responsibility of the provincial executive committees be removed from the water before the ice forms.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

33673
NOTE TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL 
OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE PETROGRAD SOVIET

September 1919

I spoke an hour ago with Tsyurupa, who told me:

1) That he is taking emergency measures

2) That he has received a series of telegrams about grain loading and the beginning of shipment to Petrograd from Ufa, Vyatka and other cities, and

3) That he has already transmitted these telegrams by telegraph to Petrograd.

10948
COMMENTS ON A LETTER FROM G. V. CHICHERIN

12 October 1919

In my opinion, no. We have a struggle at the first stage of the transition to communism by peasants and capitalists attempting to preserve (or revive) commodity production.

This is not a sign of capitalism. This comes from the forms of struggle by the opponent and from the level of culture, not from capitalism. Unfortunately, there is almost no genuine centralization.

??? This is already completely wrong.

Highly Respected Vladimir Ilich

Not knowing whether you have read among the mass of radio material about Kautsky's book, I am sending you this excerpt separately. To the extent that I have been able to read our literature, it seems to me that we have insufficiently illuminated the role of state capitalism under proletarian political power, which escapes Kautsky.

We do not yet have communism, but state capitalism with inequality of remuneration extending to piece-work payment, with forms of coercion sometimes reproducing the old regime, with centralization of management even of production while limiting factory self-management.

We have in the Red Army the state capitalism with an apparatus of very strong coercion, not the army of communism...

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY 
OF THE KREMLIN COMMITTEE RCP(b)

23 October 1919

Write to them (I will sign), that I thank you, but ask you to release [me], because [I] have no time.

To Comrade Lenin

The Kremlin Sub-district Committee RCP(b) informs You that at the general meeting of members of the Kremlin sub-district of 17 October of this year, You have been elected a member of the Committee of the Kremlin Sub-district.

14089
TELEGRAM TO THE PUGACHEV DISTRICT FOOD SUPPLY MEETING

26 October 1919

Report immediately and precisely which villages or volosts have fulfilled the grain requisition in full.

Lenin

ON THE SANITARY SERVICE OF THE EASTERN FRONT

TO ALL SOVIET INSTITUTIONS AND MILITARY AUTHORITIES

27 October 1919

The bearer—comrade Boris Solomonovich Veysbrод, doctor, I know personally. An old Party worker. I request that you treat him with full confidence and render him every possible assistance.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

43839
MANDATE TO B. S. VEYSBRОД

31 October 1919

The bearer of this, member of the collegium of the Moscow Municipal Health Department Boris Solomonovich Veysbrод, serves as chairman of the Extraordinary Commission to Combat Typhus in the region of the Eastern Front, established by decree of the Council of Worker and Peasant Defence of 24 October 1919, and as such is being sent on a mission to inspect and examine the state of sanitary affairs in the mentioned regions and to take the necessary measures to eliminate the noted shortcomings in sanitary affairs.

For the actual performance of the assignment placed upon him, he is granted the right:

1. To conduct unimpeded inspection of the state of sanitary affairs in all military units.

2. To remove from position, transfer, and allow the correction of duties and bring to trial employees of the sanitary department without distinction of the positions they hold.

3. To make all necessary orders for changing the existing state of sanitary affairs, for the evacuation of the sick and wounded.

4. To use for travel and as a base for supplying front sanitary institutions military-sanitary trains, with the right to give directions to these trains in agreement with military-road authorities.

5. To demand for travel in cities and along dirt roads means of transport: automobiles, motorcycles, and horse-drawn vehicles.

6. To use the car provided for travel, which on first demand is to be coupled to the first departing passenger, military or other trains.

7. This car is not subject to any inspections, and things in it are not subject to requisition.

8. All supply organs of the front and rear are to provide necessary supplies for him and for his accompanying personnel.

9. To communicate with the corresponding military organs by telegraph marked "military," "outside all order," by cipher and direct wire.

All Soviet authorities at local levels and individual persons are prescribed to render comrade Veysbrод, in the performance of the duties assigned to him, complete assistance without any red tape or other delays under threat of responsibility according to the laws of wartime, as for obstruction of the orders of Soviet power.

Chairman of the Council of Worker and Peasant Defence

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

44884
NOTE BY DIRECT WIRE TO B. S. VEYSBRОД

25 November 1919

Samara, Veysbrод

I will immediately transmit your communication to Semashko. We shall try to take all measures. We have mobilized dentists in the capacity of medical assistants. I wish you all the best.

Lenin

43997
NOTE TO PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF HEALTH N. A. SEMASHKO

27 November 1919

Comrade Semashko!

(1) Please return this to me with your opinion.

(2) Order a check of the facts which are indicated (so that quickly and accurately responsible persons over their own signature give an account of these facts).

(3) Veysbrод's project. Your corrections or counter-project?

Your Lenin

24203
LETTER TO DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF HEALTH

1 November 1919

Comrade Solovyev!

1) Review my notes and return them, please, with your opinion.

2) Is there statistics: how many doctors in total in Moscow?

3) Have [the] norms of doctors been published (where and when)?

4) The same: the methods of control over doctors (that they are not excessive, that they are on record)?

5) Norms (and number of doctors) in Petrograd?

6) —in other cities?

7) Should not one publish checking statistics of doctors and norms? briefly, in the newspapers, so that everyone could check?

Regards! Lenin

4543
RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM A. P. OSTAPCHENKO

5 November 1919

Call the prison, find out who he is listed under, and tell me the result.

Good Comrade Lenin!

I have heard of you as a kind and humane person and sensitive to others' grief. Therefore I have decided to write to you about my maternal sorrow, hoping for your justice, that you will understand the position of a grief-stricken mother.

My son, Vladimir Nikolaevich Ostapchenko, is in the Butyrka prison in Moscow, corridor 12, cell 37. Since 28 December 1918, nothing has been presented to him, i.e., no accusations...

I ask you, Comrade Lenin, to question him and release him to me on bond... Comrade Lenin, my son is an honest man and cannot do anything dishonorable; many Soviet workers in the city of Ryazan know him and will confirm the justice of my words...

26311
TELEGRAM TO THE SIMBIRSK PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COPY TO PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMITTEE, VOLGA FOOD SUPPLY

8 November 1919

Despite my telegram of 15 October No. 907, the plenipotentiary of Volga Food Supply Katsepov reports that on 4 November, when the Volga-Bugulyma Railway submitted cars, the loaders did not come out to work. I demand an explanation of the reasons for such negligent treatment of the needs of the starving centre. Repetition of pointless delay of cars, failure to take measures to organize loaders is absolutely inadmissible and will entail severe punishment. I place responsibility on the head of the provincial executive committee. Report immediately on the measures taken.

Chairman of the Council of Defence

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

25662
NOTE TO THE COLLECTIVE OF EMPLOYEES OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE RCP(b)

8 November 1919

I am very grateful to the comrades: I apologize that I cannot be present. To my great regret, I am occupied in the Council of Defence and am tired.

Lenin

24724
RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM MELEKES

11 November 1919

Kremlin Lenin

I beseech you in the name of consolidating our revolution to make the corresponding Commissariats issue an order, to pay serious attention to the complete non-receipt from the Kazan Railway to the Volga-Bugulyma Railway of empty cars for the shipment of food supplies to the valiant Red Army and centre. Grain collection points are overflowing, but shipments are not happening.

Deputy Plenipotentiary of Samara Provincial People's Commissariat of Food Supply

Markov: what can you do?

43903
RESOLUTION AND NOTES ON A STATEMENT 
ON THE REQUISITION OF PERSONAL CARGO

19 November 1919

TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLY

Please arrange to investigate this precisely and underline for me what this story is. I know Boytsov from emigration.

Lenin

To Respected Comrade Vladimir Ilich
From I. Boytsov (Egorov)

Statement

In response to gifts to the Red Army fighters of the Turkestan Front from the Butyrka District, the comrade Red Army fighters sent the district a shipment of flour, and the district, having the appropriate documents, received this shipment. As for the personal cargo of the accompanying personnel—why, as having no documents for its unloading, was it partially requisitioned. Among such personal cargo was also a shipment belonging to my brother, received from my sister—a political worker, as a package for the whole Egorov family (16 persons), cargo totaling 15 puds in all...

Our family has been engaged in agriculture for 12 years, has no home of our own, no horse or grain. Part of the family is on various fronts of the civil war (Petrograd Front, Turkestan Front), part is temporarily withdrawn from the army, having served in it voluntarily for 2 years (Western Front, Southern Front), part is preparing for the front, the rest are old and young...

4565
RESOLUTION AND NOTES ON A NOTE 
ON THE ORGANIZATION OF "COMMUNE OF DISSENTERS" 
IN TURKESTAN

22 November 1919

Reply: unexecuted—typhus is passing through.

I want to go to Turkestan and set up a corner of a new life there in such a way: the Soviet Republic has given me a plot in the southeastern part of Turkestan and permits people thirsting for peace and work to settle there. A free commune of dissenters-sectarians is forming, simply quiet people, scholars wishing to engage in scholarship in peace, Tolstoyans, etc. All of this is under the military protection of Soviet power. Relations are being established with the help of sectarians with America, somewhat in a private way, and from there ploughshares, axes, telephones, printing shops are being delivered for the needs of the commune. Settlers will come to us both from China and from India...

TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

27 November 1919

I request [you] to discuss the question of developing uniform, brief but substantive questions (or forms) for printing in Economic Life periodic reports on the results of work on developing productive forces (number of employed workers; production, extraction; productivity per 1 worker, etc.) for all or the main branches of the economy.

Report to me your conclusion.

Lenin

It is necessary to divide reports into 2 parts:

a) such a part which can only be reported (plan, conditions, peculiarities, etc.)

b) such which can and must be expressed in figures.

Print both.

The second—select what is essential (for summaries and comparisons).

(Compare example of lack of clarity—"Glavslanets," report dated 1 October 1919). Is it printed? Where? How often?

(The secret part should be printed in percentages, e.g.: 1 October 1919—100 number of workers; 1 November 1919—120, etc.).

TO THE VII ALL-RUSSIAN CONGRESS OF SOVIETS

24842
ANNOUNCEMENT TO CONGRESS DELEGATES

4 December 1919

Comrades,

I request all documents and statements during the sessions of the congress be submitted through comrade Brichkina, to prevent loss.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

4674
NOTE ON A DOCUMENT WITH RESOLUTIONS OF WORKERS 
TO THE VII CONGRESS OF SOVIETS

December 1919

(To my desk):

Resolutions of workers (December 1919).

24751
TELEGRAM TO THE OREL PROVINCIAL FOOD COMMISSAR

11 December 1919

Peasants of Lavrovskaya volost complain about a high grain requisition. They point out the possibility of shortage of grain for personal consumption by Christmas. Carefully investigate the validity of the complaint. In case of confirmation, eliminate the injustice.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

COMMENTS ON A DRAFT DECREE 
ON REQUISITIONS AND CONFISCATIONS

13067

16 December 1919

Decree on Requisitions and Confiscations

Requisitioned and confiscated items of food supplies and other items of broad consumption are transferred to the ownership of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and no later than within 9 days from the moment of seizure are handed over through food supply organs; items of furnishings and household effects through distribution organs; money and valuables through People's Banks; weapons through military commissariats; agricultural tools, inventory, etc., through the organs of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture, etc.

10. Not subject to seizure: monopolized and rationed food items in amounts not exceeding the norms established by the People's Commissariat of Food Supply; non-rationed items—regardless of their quantity, if there arises no substantial suspicion that these products are intended for speculation.

Note: The People's Commissariat of Food Supply is assigned the duty not later than 15 January 1920 to publish the mentioned norms.

See comments in the text.

Where are they transferred? The editing is not quite good.

And the requisition quota? Is the surplus subject to seizure if it was not included in the requisition??

It is better to think over, together with the People's Commissariat of Food Supply, the question of requisition quotas.

11. Not subject to requisition are items of broad consumption, such as: clothing, footwear, furniture, dishes, etc., that have been in use; unused items, as well as materials necessary for their manufacture, are retained only in the amount necessary to satisfy the actual needs of family members, provided that the quantity of items, both used and unused, does not suggest storage for speculative purposes.

13. Not subject to seizure are books and musical notation from private persons and societies in amounts not exceeding 3,000 titles of books or 1,000 titles of musical notation, as well as from persons and societies having books and musical notation in larger quantities but possessing safe conducts from the Library Division of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment. When seizing surplus against the above-mentioned norms, the owner is granted the right to choose the books or musical notation retained by him.

Not the right word. It follows that unnecessary pants from an ordinary person can be taken? This is too much. Here something is expressed incorrectly, too broadly.

It must be said differently.

In my view, limits are also needed here: special ordinances, not even local but central authority. Otherwise taking books above 3,000 is impossible.

Is there a law for this? So it means a peasant's [money] above 5 x 2,000 = 10,000 rubles—confiscate everything?

This cannot be done.

Here too limits are needed.

A ring? a trinket?

14. Not subject to seizure are paper banknotes in amounts not exceeding the annual minimum tariff rate of the given locality per person in the family. Cash surplus above this norm is confiscated.

15. Not subject to seizure are gold and silver articles as well as precious stones set in articles in amounts not exceeding one item of each type of thing per person.

N.B. And a second horse? A second cow?

***

18. Not subject to seizure are articles of peasant farm and household management in amounts necessary for conducting the farm without the employment of hired labour, depending on the composition of the family and local farm conditions. In particular, not subject to seizure are the sole horse and cow, small livestock and domestic fowl.

# This, perhaps, is the most important and the most dangerous point. It is impossible to permit the taking of a second horse and a second cow. Are there no rules on this subject from Comfood and the People's Commissariat of War?

This cannot be done. This is a point in which one must be far more careful.

4673
RESOLUTION ON THE REPORT OF THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR POOL 
OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

22 December 1919

Vladimir Dmitrievich!

I request you to convey thanks to the comrades for energetic work and to issue 1 pud of flour as a bonus.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

ON THE ERECTION IN MOSCOW OF A MONUMENT 
TO KARL MARX

4637
RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM A. V. LUNACHARSKY

24 December 1919

Dear Vladimir Ilich,

In one of our conversations you expressed to me a reproach that we still do not have a good monument to K. Marx in Moscow. I should note that in Petrograd across from the Smolny there is a rather good monument to Marx, made by the well-known sculptor Matveyev, however, in a non-durable material.

If the Petrograd Executive Committee is satisfied with this figure of Marx, then I will petition for it to be cast in cement, if it turns out to be impossible to use bronze for this.

I agree that it is necessary to proceed with the construction of a monument to Marx in Moscow. I know that at the first competition very grandiose projects were submitted with the reconstruction of entire squares. Of course, it is not possible to think about this now and the matter can only be about a beautiful substantial monumental figure of Marx on one of the squares.

The competitions we have announced up to now have always led to misunderstandings and have not given sufficient results. In Moscow there is a sculptor quite suitable for an individual commission of a statue of Marx to him. This is the author of the already excellently erected granite monument to Dostoevsky on Tsvetnoi Boulevard by the Moscow Soviet—artist Merkurov...

I very much request you, dear Vladimir Ilich, to answer me on this note by telephone... In case of your agreement, Merkurov could begin work immediately and the monument could be erected by 1 May.

Give your opinion in writing or by telephone to the Moscow Soviet.

4985
NOTE TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY

19 April 1920

To Comrade Lunacharsky and to the Small Soviet

Sculptor S. Merkurov finds it deeply unjust and incorrect that the cancellation of the commission given to him by the Council of People's Commissars (30 December 1919) took place:

(1) without a personal summons to him,

(2) without written notification to him and without providing him with a copy of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars canceling the commission.

Therefore Merkurov insists that by 15 April 1920 (the deadline given by the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of 23 February 1920 to Aleshin with the collective) Merkurov be granted the right to present once again a new project.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

# 1919

10030
RESOLUTION ON THE DRAFT DECREE
CONCERNING PETROGRAD THEATERS
Before December 25, 1919

Having accepted the general provision that all theaters, with the exception of those specially mentioned in the decree as academic state theaters—the Moscow: Bolshoi, Maly, and Art Theater, Petrograd: Mariinsky, Aleksandrinsky, and Mikhailovsky—are subsidized, the Theater Center did not take into account an entire group of theaters existing under special conditions, namely the so-called Petrograd communal theaters, which from their very inception have been national theaters, financed and possessing at present very considerable common property in the form of central warehouses, central costume departments, scenery, props, stencil, paint, shoe and other workshops.

The division of these theaters into separate autonomous or semi-autonomous units would be extremely irrational, as both a repeal of the strictly carried out centralization of the entire administrative and material apparatus, and inexpedient in terms of economy of forces and means.

In view of all the foregoing, the following is hereby decreed: the Petrograd communal theaters—the Grand Opera, Grand Dramatic, Small Dramatic and Petrograd Dramatic theaters—are to be considered national state theaters, under the direct jurisdiction of the Petrograd Theater Department, financed on the basis of budgets submitted by the PTD and approved in the prescribed manner.

Discuss with Lunacharsky (for the Small Soviet). Anatoly Vasilievich, what is your opinion?

Lenin

Remind me when M. F. Andreyeva arrives.

23235 and 15386

TELEGRAM TO M. M. LITVINOV
COPENHAGEN
December 28, 1919

Litvinov from Lenin

It is extremely important to us to have all documents, resolutions, brochures, newspaper articles and speeches concerning ideological currents in left socialism and communism, especially anarcho-syndicalist distortions of communism or attacks against communism. Collect all of this carefully in all languages, make excerpts, send them, bring them in 3-4 copies, especially concerning the German "Independents," their congress and after their congress, and the German communists.

Lenin

Comrade Chicherin!

Is it not possible to send this in cipher? I ask you to call me.

Lenin

4653

NOTATION ON THE TELEGRAM OF F. E. DZERZHINSKY
December 28, 1919

To all Gubcheka, Uezdcheka, Rai- and UTCHK

In view of the increasing frequency of snowstorms, from which threatens a stoppage of railroad movement control, which at present threatens grave consequences for the existence of Soviet power, the All-Russian Emergency Commission hereby orders you to undertake urgent measures to prevent even the slightest stoppages of railroad movement. Report all measures undertaken to the VChK. Non-compliance will be punished according to the laws of wartime. This order is valid and binding for the entire winter.

Chairman of the VChK Dzerzhinsky

* The telegram was sent in cipher with the following note from the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs: "If you are limited in the amount of baggage upon returning to Russia, apply the system of excerpts or photography. The rest—to the literature depots, so that it can be transported to us in sections."

1919

44894

NOTATION ON LETTER FROM NARKOMAT OF TRANSPORTATION
December 29, 1919

To the Secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars

Regarding the note in the Swedish newspaper about the application of the diesel engine for locomotive traction, I report: the application of diesels for locomotive traction encounters great difficulties in the properties of the diesel engine, in particular in the incapacity of this engine for overload and the difficulty of changing direction.

The application of diesels to locomotives is one of the most difficult tasks of technology, and even the Swedes, the best engineers in the entire world, so far as is known, have not yet solved this problem. This problem has absolutely no practical significance for us, since we have not the slightest possibility of rebuilding locomotives for diesel, even if the problem were already technically solved, which it is not.

24774

NOTE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
December 31, 1919

To Brichkina: this cannot be done. It is not enough to send to Tsyurupa. It is necessary to check and record what response was sent and when.

10155

NOTE TO THE SECRETARY
December 1919

Call Stalin and Chicherin that the commission (at my place) is being postponed to 7½, because I will not finish in the Defense Council earlier.

4205

FROM THE DRAFT RESOLUTION ON THE UKRAINIAN BOROTBIST PARTY
December 1919

Recognize the Borotbists as a party violating the fundamental principles of communism through their propaganda of the division of military forces and support of banditry, which directly benefits the Whites and international imperialism.

Equally contradicting the interests of the proletariat is their struggle against the slogan of a close and closest union with the RSFSR.

All policy must be conducted systematically and unwaveringly toward the liquidation of the Borotbists in the near future. For this purpose, do not overlook any transgression by the Borotbists without immediate and severe punishment. Especially collect data on the non-proletarian and most unreliable character of the majority of their party members.

The moment of liquidation is to be determined within a short time; the moment will be established by the Politburo and communicated to the Ukrainian Revolutionary Committee.

NOTE TO A. I. ELIZAROVA

To A. I. Elizarova

Tomorrow call and tell me the results.

Hurry the publication of:
"Report of the 1st All-Russian Congress on Child Protection of the People's Commissariat of Social Security." Printing house formerly Kushnareva.

Everything was ready in October.

NOTATIONS ON THE REPORT
ON THE CONSUMPTION OF MEAT AND BREAD IN 1918-1919 IN 26 PROVINCES OF SOVIET RUSSIA

Consumption of urban and rural population in Soviet Russia.

1) According to data from nutritional surveys.

2) According to data from the People's Commissariat of Food (for the producing strip, it is necessary to add supplies from local sources).

The calculation was made for 26 provinces of Soviet Russia, of which 14 are usually considered part of the consuming strip, and 12 part of the producing strip. The strip included in the calculation extends eastward to the Volga, not including the Trans-Volga region (Samara, Ufa, Orenburg, as well as Astrakhan provinces), and on the west does not include Byelorussia with Vitebsk and Pskov provinces. ...

• • • • • •

Rural meat consumption...
Consuming provinces: 4,951 t. p.
Producing provinces: 25,760 t. p.

or per person: 0.36 pud / 0.90 pud

... Thus, even when accounting for village bag-trading at its maximum size, bread consumption in the rural population of the producing strip remains somewhat elevated compared to normal, and bread consumption in the rural population of the consuming strip—below the norm.

Summary:
Consumption for: Before / Now
Strip {Producing 17 / Consuming 14 / 10

Bread consumption in 1918-1919...
Delivered
Including
Total
Kommissioners and
Bag-traders
Total for 26 provinces... 121.4 / 53.0 / 68.4

Previously was approximately 1 pud: 0.74 x 1.4 = 1.036 puds per person

53.0 out of 121.4 = 43.65%

Comparison of consumption in 1918-1919 with pre-war consumption

Per person on average

Bread consumption | Meat consumption
Urban population | Rural population | Urban population | Rural population
Producing provinces | Consuming provinces | Producing provinces | Consuming provinces | Producing provinces | Consuming provinces | Producing provinces | Consuming provinces
In 1918-1919... | 9.5 | 16.9 | 11.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.90 | 
In pre-war time | 6.8 | 16.10 | 14.16 | 1.2 | 2.87 | 13.96 | 0.94

6.8 puds = 288 pounds: 365 = 0.788 pounds per day.

ON THE JOURNAL "REVOLUTION AND THE CHURCH"

NOTATIONS ON NOTES BY P. A. KRASIKOV

43041

The journal "Revolution and the Church." Interest in the journal is colossal, subscriptions are coming in furiously from the provinces, especially the petty bourgeoisie, peasant and urban, and workers will also read the journal, it will penetrate to all remote corners. Make an effort...

By the way, could you not point out exactly in which issues of "Proletariat" were your articles, I seem to remember, in 1912?—P. Krasikov

Impossible. Up to my neck in debt. You write, you have become somewhat gentler now.

I don't remember.

I began to read, but have not finished and not yet "read into it."

43038

Vladimir Ilyich,
If you have taken the trouble to skim through the journal "Revolution and the Church," tell me, what is your impression?—P. Krasikov

NOTES TO MANAGERS OF AFFAIRS AND SECRETARIES OF THE SNK
ANSWERS TO NOTES OF SECRETARIES
February 1919

10304

Vladimir Ilyich, would you not find it possible to decree such a provision that decrees be sent for publication directly to "Izvestiya," not through ROSTA, which only delays their publication...

Comrade Sereda is ill and cannot come to the meeting.

He did not speak himself.

It is necessary to find out who? A woman's voice spoke.

Who is writing this? First of all, check whether there is not an order (SNK or TsIK) to send through ROSTA.

10250

Did you speak with him personally?

And who?

November 4, 1919

Is the meeting of the Defense Council extraordinary, on one particular question or to constitute a general agenda?

What question?

Vladimir Ilyich, will there be a meeting of the SNK this evening?

12802

Yes, but also general questions.

Fuel.

10197

No. Cancelled. Notify everyone.

10192

July 9-11, 1919

N.B. Give Gorky two hours' notice (Thursday).

25609

NOTE TO V. D. BONCH-BRUEVICH
May 1919

Dear V. D.!

My sister wants to translate Gorter ("Imperialism").

Would you be so kind as to find out whether this is already being translated? Has it already been published by others?

Your Lenin

10189

Please tell Maria Ilyinishna not to wait for me.

---

# 1920

4684

TO THE PODOLSK UISPOLKOM
COPY TO MOSCOW GUBERNIYA ISPOLKOM

In the village of Aleksandrovo of Podolsk District of Moscow Province, a certain Terekhin, in the name of the Communist League of Youth, has, contrary to direct orders of the People's Commissariat of Education, occupied the lace-making school, arrested the schoolmistress, and removed part of the property. Immediately release the school, return all articles taken from it, both of the school itself and of the schoolmistresses, give the schoolmistresses the opportunity to work peacefully. Investigate the illegal actions of Terekhin for bringing him to trial.

Report on execution.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from manuscript copy.

24955

RESOLUTION ON THE TELEPHONOGRAM OF G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE
January 5, 1920

Please relay to Vladimir Ilyich a note.

In Kharkov, Yekaterinoslav, and other cities of Ukraine, a typhus epidemic is raging. The Denikinites and Makhnovites have plundered the entire population and hospitals. The sick lie without bedding or in rags covered with lice. All measures we are taking in connection with the lack of bedding amount to nothing. Turning to you, I ask for your order for the immediate dispatch of no fewer than twenty thousand pairs of bedding or material. The Sanitary Section of the Southern Front refused on account of lack.

I await your order.

With warm greetings Ordzhonikidze
January 2, 1920

Urgent: by telephone to Semashko.

12892

NOTE TO V. N. PODBELSKY
January 10, 1920

To Podbelsky

1) Are you energetically pushing forward (and supervising) the installation of telephone service in Kursk and Kharkov?

2) When will it be ready?

4694

NOTATION ON THE TELEGRAM OF M. V. FRUNZE
January 10, 1920

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Comrade Lenin, Revolutionary War Council of the Republic, Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee Kalinin, Central Committee of the Communist Party

Samara, January 9. In connection with the necessity of strengthening our influence in the regions along the courses of the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya rivers, now living completely isolated lives, I consider it necessary to organize an economic campaign toward this population. I find the most suitable form for this to be the organization of trade caravans, by means of barge-shops together with barge-theaters and cinema. The prolonged experience of the work of barge-shops of Comrade Malyshev on the Volga would guarantee the organization of trade caravans there as well. Therefore I ask permission to transfer Comrade Malyshev with his entire expedition to Turkestan for this work. Malyshev himself simultaneously confirms the value and necessity of this work. I ask not to delay with a reply.

Commander of the Turk Front Frunze

ON THE MARIINSKY WATER ROUTE
24976

NOTATION ON TELEGRAM FROM PETROGRAD
January 14, 1920

Moscow, to Lenin
Copy to Glavvodu

To Glavvodu: has it been done and what?

In the Mariinsky region there is an absence of reserves of cast iron, coke, and foodstuffs, mainly bread, for the repair of the fleet and hydrotechnical structures, the construction of the "Polza" lock. It is necessary to urgently supply the region with foodstuffs, as the absence threatens a delay in the repair of the fleet and hydrotechnical structures, which have strategic significance. The indicated delay may entail a delay in the opening of navigation.

To the Central Committee of the RCP(b)

Have you decided this matter? And how did you decide it?

TELEGRAM TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR COUNCIL OF THE BALTIC FLEET
24998

PETROGRAD MORECTRAN
February 10, 1920

Military

In fulfillment of the resolution of the Defense Council of February 7, order is hereby given to immediately release to the Baltic Mariinsky Regional Water Authority on loan 20 wagons of bread, 3 wagons of oats, if the bread supply of the Baltic Fleet is secured by a two-month reserve. Report execution to Glavsnabprodarmu and Narkomprod-distribution.

Chairman of the Defense Council
Lenin

Printed from original signed by V. I. Lenin.

12907

NOTATIONS ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE SNK
ON THE REPORT OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF MAIL AND TELEGRAPH
January 17, 1920

1) Recognize the explanations of the People's Commissariat of Mail and Telegraph regarding the activity of postal and telegraph institutions as satisfactory.

2) Approve the draft order submitted by the People's Commissariat of Mail and Telegraph concerning note-telegrams and publish it in the name of the People's Commissariat of Mail and Telegraph.

3) Recognize as a matter of principle the necessity of establishing for each agency a definite norm of telegraph usage through the establishment at each Commissariat of a special telegraph bureau. Instruct the People's Commissariat of Mail and Telegraph within a week to submit to the Council of People's Commissars a draft of a special resolution on this question.

4) Instruct the People's Commissariat of Transportation, the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic, and the Special Committee for the Implementation of Martial Law on the Railways to take decisive measures of influence on railway agents and military communications personnel manifesting criminal negligence in moving mail wagons.

5) Propose to the People's Commissariat of Transportation and the Revolutionary War Council of the Republic to establish the movement of mail wagons to newly liberated territories in the shortest possible time.

6) Permit the People's Commissariat of Mail and Telegraph to cease sending potatoes by mail.

7) Propose to all People's Commissariats to make broader use of the courier services of the People's Commissariat of Mail and Telegraph.

Adopt. To the Small Council. Adopt. VChK Adopt. Adopt.

12914

NOTATION ON NOTE BY I. I. STEPANOV-SKVORTSOV
January 17, 1920

Dear Vladimir Ilyich, at my request one person in the Khamovniki District carefully recorded all actual bread distributions. This person himself—head of one Soviet and, in the evening hours, also one party library—works ten hours a day, but is in the 2nd category. Consequently, over three months she received 14 pounds of baked bread. Potatoes and so forth were not issued at all.

Warmly shaking your hand. I. Skvortsov

NOTES TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
January 21, 1920

To Brichkina: I ask you to register and immediately send for opinion (very urgent) to Comrade Dzerzhinsky, with a request to return with his assessment as soon as possible.

Lenin

4721

January 23, 1920

The secretary of the "Industrial Workers of the World" Gardi requests an audience.

Call him and find out exactly when he is leaving.

An audience is necessary. Is it not possible to postpone until Wednesday evening?

24978

TELEGRAM TO THE GUBPRODKOMMISSAR MYASKOV
COPIES TO THE PARTY COMMITTEE OF COMMUNISTS
AND THE COOPERATIVE DEPARTMENT OF MUSU
SAMARA
January 25, 1920

By the quantity of frictions and misunderstandings with the cooperative movement, Samara occupies first place. I am surprised that they have not yet begun to implement the decree of March 20. I propose to strictly adhere to the instructions of the People's Commissariat of Food. Report what hindered your work, by whom the commission was established that removed Chairman Mikhailov and other cooperators, and on what basis it operates. Instead of the irritating struggle against individual cooperators, concentrate your efforts on political preparation for reelections.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from original signed by V. I. Lenin.

4740

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM A. M. GORKY
January 31, 1920

I very much apologize, dear Vladimir Ilyich, that I am forced to appeal to you with a complaint and request—here one cannot get a straight answer from anyone.

About a year ago by telegram of the Supreme Council of the National Economy... I was appointed commissar of the printing house "Kopeyika," which was placed entirely at the disposal of "World Literature." For purposes of technical supervision and accounting, alongside me the former commissar from the printing section of the local SNKh was also retained.

"World Literature" took enormous effort to preserve the productivity of the printing house throughout a difficult year and to save it from the decay in which now the majority of large, nationalized printing houses find themselves.

Desiring to raise the productivity of these printing houses, the local printing section found no other way than to forcibly, through its commissar, remove from "Kopeyika" its worker personnel and transfer them to Soviet printing houses.

On January 27 in this way 10 workers from the machine department were taken from me; on the 28th the same number of compositors and bookbinders were requested. These removals were carried out despite my protest as commissar.

Such behavior of the printing section, completely destroying the work of "Kopeyika," deprives "World Literature" of the possibility of printing its books. Besides "World Literature," at "Kopeyika," with my consent, work is being printed for the Baltic Fleet, the Murmansk Railway, and orders are executed from Smolny. It goes without saying that the printing house takes no private orders.

Thus, destroying the work of "Kopeyika," the printing section is causing damage to Soviet power itself.

I ask you:

1. Protect "Kopeyika" from further encroachments by the printing section.

2. Take measures to return the workers taken from "Kopeyika."

3. Confirm sufficiently authoritatively my rights as commissar, indicating that the printing house has been placed at the exclusive disposal of "World Literature," and, besides me, needs no other commissar.

I am convinced that only in this way is it possible to ensure the further work of "World Literature" and preserve from destruction the only properly functioning large printing house in Petrograd. I ask you to consider my request immediately and give me a reply by telegraph, since the destruction of the printing house has already begun and is being conducted very energetically.

M. Gorky

To Vorovsky for urgent assessment.

Lenin

8437 and 41063

NOTES REGARDING THE DRAFT PROVISION
ON THE AWARDING OF BONUSES TO WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES
February 1, 1920

Concerning bonuses, doubts are raised. Section 4—a completely arbitrary determination of the norm (50%—exactly 50%—from the "best," i.e., with the best machines, etc. This is completely arbitrary. Is it not possible to be more precise? Publish the norms for control? Or gather them for the Scientific-Technical Department, etc., publishing in a bulletin?).

Summary report: height of bonuses. No reports on this have been established. Will they then not in fact legalize wholesale abuses?

It is necessary to attract consumers to control the norms. Are there no examples of this? With cooperatives? etc.

The draft is guilty of broad gestures, abstractness, lack of practical sense—it promises everything and checks nothing.

Lenin

General Provision on Bonusing

§ 4. The basis for established production norms should be the technically possible production under the best technical conditions of production, which should be recognized as the normal state of means and instruments of production. However, because of the general conditions of the present state of industry, a deduction should be made from this technically possible norm, but in no case exceeding 50%, after which the actual production norm is established, which may be different for different industries, enterprises, and their groups.

§ 17. Control over the correctness of bonus payments, as well as the production of products above the norm for which bonuses are paid, is placed on the Central Committee of production unions, production departments of VSNKH, which bear full responsibility.

§ 18. On the boards of enterprises falls the obligation to compile reports not less than once every three months on the results of the application of the bonus system in the enterprise. A summary of these reports for each branch of industry is compiled by the central institution. The compilation of general summaries is placed on the Scientific-Technical Department of VSNKH and the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions and is published for general information.

24993

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NIZHNY NOVGOROD GUBERNIYA ISPOLKOM
February 3, 1920

Nizhny-Novgorod, to the Chairman of the Guberniya Ispolkom
Copy to the Radio Laboratory, Deputy Manager

In view of the special importance of the tasks set for the Radio Laboratory, and the important successes achieved by it, provide the most effective assistance and support to ease the conditions of work and eliminate obstacles.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from original signed by V. I. Lenin.

NOTES TO INESSA ARMAND
February 1920

43401

Dear friend!

I wanted to call you, hearing that you were ill, but the telephone is not working. Give me your number, I will have it fixed.

What is the matter with you? Write 2 words about your health and other matters.

Greetings! Lenin

43405

Dear friend!

Write, please, what is the matter with you. The times are bad: typhus, influenza, Spanish flu, cholera.

I just got up and am not going out. Nadia has a temperature of 39° and she asked to see you.

What is your temperature?

Do you need anything for treatment? I very much ask you to write frankly.

Get well!

Your Lenin

43402

Dear friend!

Write whether a doctor came and what he said.

It is necessary to follow exactly.

The telephone is broken again. I have ordered it fixed and ask your daughters to call me about your health.

It is necessary to follow exactly everything the doctor said.

(Nadia in the morning had 37.3. Now 38).

Your Lenin

43416

February 16-17, 1920

To go out with a temperature of 38° (and up to 39°) is sheer madness! I insistently ask you not to go out, and tell your daughters from me that I ask them to watch and not let you out

1) until complete restoration of normal temperature and 2) until permission from the doctor.

Answer me on this without fail exactly.

(Nadezhda Konstantinovna had 39.7 this morning, February 16, now in the evening 38.2. Doctors were called: throat abscess. They will treat. I am completely well).

Your Lenin

Today, the 17th, Nadezhda Konstantinovna already has 37.3.

25027

RESOLUTION ON THE TELEGRAM FROM ARKHANGELSK
February 24, 1920

1) Send copies to the four named People's Commissariats.

2) Add: I ask them to immediately convene a meeting on this and call me about the opinion of the meeting.

Lenin

4809

TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC
February 27, 1920

All in cipher

Of course, the Defense Council will not object to the disbanding of the army apparatuses. All signs indicate that Poland will present us with absolutely impossible, even brazen conditions. All attention must be directed to preparing and strengthening the Western Front. I would consider urgent measures necessary for the rapid delivery of everything possible from Siberia and the Urals to the Western Front. I am afraid we hurried somewhat with the labor armies if we do not use them completely for accelerating delivery to the Western Front. It is necessary to give the slogan to prepare for war with Poland.

Lenin

43764

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH N. A. SEMASHKO
February 28, 1920

Can I count on your speaking at the Congress of Medical and Sanitary Workers on Monday at 6 p.m.? I will inform you of the place on Monday morning.

N. Semashko

Almost certainly yes (at 6½ or 7 p.m.), since probably at the Cossack Congress in the daytime.

FROM CORRESPONDENCE WITH A. M. GORKY

4915

NOTATIONS ON A LETTER FROM A. M. GORKY
March 7-8, 1920

Dear Vladimir Ilyich!

Please receive Farbman, a very influential contributor to English and American newspapers. He recently returned from America, was in Germany, and is now going there again. He will be in London, where he could offer serious assistance to Leonid, as a man very influential in the press. From conversation with him you will be convinced that he sincerely sympathizes with Soviet power and that he can be excellently utilized. Speaks Russian freely.

Furthermore: how about the scholars?

Will they leave 1,800 rations?

March 5, 1920

All the best!

A. Peshkov

They gave 2 months

I urgently beg—leave them—this is absolutely necessary, it is of enormous importance.

I also ask you: call Felix Dzerzhinsky and tell him to release chemist Sapoznikov as soon as possible. The latter found a way to obtain from gas tar—which is used to lubricate tramway tracks on curves and switches—homoemulsions, a product of such strong antiseptic significance as carbolic acid. From a pud of tar one can obtain up to 50 buckets of one-percent solution. We need this product absolutely, since they are bringing waste from the courtyards to Nevsky Prospekt, and from Nevsky—loading it onto tramway platforms and—out of the city.

That is good, but—not very, since now it is the time of muddy roads, the cobblestones are exposed from the snow and absorb all sorts of filth. You understand? Sapoznikov's products could be spread over entire streets. Its production is not complicated.

And also: it is necessary to give Manukhin the opportunity to work on the discovery of a serum against typhus, but here—you cannot get anything done...

I telegraphed Semashko—he does not answer.

Forgive me for pestering you, but these are matters of extreme importance—you understand yourself!

ORDER TO SECRETARY
10137

March 19, 1920

This is sufficient. Make an extract of Gorky's points for sending to him.

25103

TELEGRAM TO A. M. GORKY
PETROGRAD
March 19, 1920

Regarding your letter of March 5, I report the copy of the telegram from the People's Commissariat of Food to Badayev: "You are proposed, pending final resolution of the question of improving the situation of scholars by the special commission of the Council of People's Commissars, to continue supplies according to the plan previously adopted by you, that is, not reducing them, in accordance with the latest order of the People's Commissariat of Food."

The Pokrovsky Commission protests the Petrograd list as unjust.

Sapoznikov was released March 9.

Manukhin must present to the People's Commissariat of Health Semashko a statement of the method of proposed research, on the results of whose examination depends the decision.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from original signed by V. I. Lenin.

5000

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM A. M. GORKY
April 29, 1920

To the Council of People's Commissars

Up to the present time, the disposal of the Commission for the Improvement of the Condition of Scholars has 1,800 rations, which have been distributed among the scholars, but since the indicated quantity of rations is far from satisfying all scholars, and a large number of highly qualified scholars remain without rations, the commission urgently asks the Council of People's Commissars to increase the number of rations to 2,000.

For opinion of Lunacharsky and Komprod.

Lenin

Chairman of the Commission M. Gorky

44891

RESOLUTION ON THE TELEGRAM OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
March 15, 1920

Moscow, Lefortovsky 7, to Chertkov
Telegraphed to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
I ask you to direct the request to load the donated bread—one wagon—in the disposition of the Council of Soviet Defense and to support the petition, telegraphing Samara, Samarskaya 20.—Yakovlev (chairman of the congress of sectarians held in Samara).

Chairman of SNK Ulyanov (Lenin)

To the Council of Soviet Defense, I ask you to support the petition, telegraphing Samara, Samarskaya 20. Chairman of SNK Ulyanov (Lenin)

36084

NOTATIONS ON THE ARTICLE BY YU. LARIN
IN "ECONOMIC LIFE"
March 20, 1920

Unions and Chief Administrations
(Theses of the report of the Central Committee to metalworkers)

1. Internal organization of professional workers' unions...

3. The October Revolution converted the united proletariat from wage slave of capitalists into owner of industry in the person of the proletarian state power: the wage-earning class became class-entrepreneur.

That's right! | Stupid!

1905

RESOLUTION ON LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF THE "LEAGUE FOR THE SALVATION OF CHILDREN"
March 24, 1920

Inquire of Comrade Dzerzhinsky. I ask for his opinion. (I think this is a trick).

Lenin

25372

NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF MAIL AND TELEGRAPH
ON THE WORK OF RADIO STATIONS
March 1920

1) Establish monthly summaries
2) on all major stations
3) with indication of how many words for
NKID
NKVOEN
ROSTA, etc.
Give them to me.

12 k

NOTATIONS ON THE BROCHURE BY S. I. GUSEV
"CURRENT QUESTIONS OF ECONOMIC CONSTRUCTION"

S. I. Gusev
Current Questions
of Economic Construction

Theses from the report by S. I. Gusev,
adopted at party conferences
of the Caucasus Front and the Reserve Army of the Caucasus Front

1) A unified economic plan should be divided into economic periods, with each period assigned one basic economic task in the following sequence: a) restoration of transport, delivery and formation of grain, fuel and raw materials reserves, b) intensive development of machine building for the extraction of fuel, raw materials, grain and for the development of transport, c) intensive development of machine building for the production of mass consumption goods, d) intensive production of mass consumption goods.

A unified economic plan must be firmly and unwaveringly carried out and must become the axis of the agitation which the party will develop around questions of economic life and labor mobilization.

2) All production not auxiliary to the basic task of the economic period may be supported only insofar as their work does not hinder the implementation of the main task. Production auxiliary to the basic task should be developed to the extent of actual necessity. For this reason, a unified economic plan should represent not a sum of production programs worked out by production sections and local sovnarkhozes on the basis of received orders from central and local institutions, but, on the contrary, a unified economic plan should determine the size of production programs for each section.

3) Mobilization of qualified workers, professional education, labor mobilizations, utilization of labor armies and mobilization of communists should be coordinated with the main tasks of each economic period, with communists receiving preliminary special training, for which purpose a Special Organ should be created at the Central Committee...

6) At guberniya, district and volost executive committees should be organized model labor brigades, regiments, battalions and companies, which, serving local needs, would at the same time be permanent cadres into which those mobilized by labor obligation for local needs would be incorporated.

March 1920

Lenin's copy.

a) + plan of electrification
b) + electrification

NOTATIONS ON LETTER FROM A. M. PESHKOV
After April 2, 1920

Dear Vladimir Ilyich!

...I am enclosing a copy of the statement from the Council of the Hermitage concerning the necessity of re-evacuation of its valuables from Moscow to Petrograd; I too ask your help, as a member of the Council.

And further I draw your attention to the necessity of taking decisive measures in the struggle against juvenile delinquency. Now, being acquainted with the situation of this question, I know how terribly rapidly the infection of delinquency spreads...

The To Lunacharsky.

To Lunacharsky for opinion.

To Centroutiль.

Isolation does not achieve its goal. Other measures are necessary, and I propose to organize a "League for the Struggle Against Juvenile Delinquency," to which I will invite all the most authoritative figures on the questions of education of defective children and on the question of struggling against juvenile delinquency.

This must be done with haste.

Forgive me for pestering you with "trifles." You speak very good speeches about the necessity of labor. It would be good if you, in one of your speeches, pointed out such facts: since the attack of Yudenich on the streets of Petrograd, there lie and rot tens of thousands of canvas bags with sand from which machine-gun nests and platforms were made. The bags are spoiled, rotted, while at the paper factories there is a lack of rags.

On the sites of destroyed wooden houses lies and rusts not one million puds of iron.

In the breaking up of houses, window panes and door glass are not removed but broken—now window glass costs 1,000, 1,200 rubles—here tens of millions of money are lost.

But, of course, the matter is not about money, but about the fact that one must accustom people to treat their welfare carefully! Work collecting bags, rags, glass, iron can be carried out by the forces of those imprisoned in prisons.

I discuss these themes everywhere, but it is necessary that you too say your word. Truly, this is not "trifles" in the final analysis!

Firmly shaking your hand and be well!

A. Peshkov

April 2, 1920

RESOLUTION AND NOTATIONS ON LETTER FROM A. V. LUNACHARSKY
33826

April 17, 1920

To the Small Soviet: I ask you to carry this out. Even more: it is necessary to give preference to teachers.

Lenin

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, Comrade V. I. Lenin

You forwarded to me a telegram from Kazan with a complaint about the absence of monetary instruments. Similar telegrams I have received from Vyatka and Vologda provinces. In all these places, teachers, in the absence of money, have not received wages for three months.

It turns out, therefore, that in absolutely hungry provinces—teachers are starving due to the absence of products, and in producing ones, such as Kazan, Vologda and Vyatka, in which teachers can actually feed themselves—they are starving due to the absence of money.

I very much ask you, Vladimir Ilyich, to make some order, or bring this to the consideration of the Council of People's Commissars, so that monetary instruments issued for the needs of provinces are distributed proportionally, that is: when there is a shortage of 10-20%, such shortage is distributed among all departments. Otherwise, in fact, what happens is that absolutely everyone, except those in education, receives wages...

25128

TELEGRAM TO THE CHAIR OF REVKOM AND HEAD OF FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF SIBERIA
OMSK
April 20, 1920

All gold in the two trains, adding what is available in Omsk, immediately dispatch with absolutely reliable sufficient military guard to Kazan for transfer to storage in the depositories of the Guberniya Finance Section.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from original signed by V. I. Lenin.

25129

TELEPHONOGRAM TO GLAVTOP
COPY VSNKH
April 22, 1920

The shipment that has arrived from Grozny addressed to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. I. Lenin consisting of 46 wagons (14 wagons of gasoline, 5—kerosene, 3—mineral oil, 8—petroleum, 16—fuel oil), is entrusted to Glavtop to unload for distribution in the general order.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from original signed by V. I. Lenin.

NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND F. E. DZERZHINSKY
April 22, 1920

M. F. Andreyeva has a method of communication for obtaining newspapers and mail (for obtaining and sending, for exchange).

I ask you to provide her all possible assistance for proper organization of this matter.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

NOTES REGARDING THE DECREE
ON THE LABOR FOOD RATION
April 27, 1920

13094

1) Change the name.
2) Abolish the general civilian norm.
3) Make the ration the basis labor, i.e., for days worked.
4) Divide the labor ration into categories according to the ease or difficulty of labor.
5) 1st category: intellectual and office work
6) 2nd " physical labor
7) 3rd " particularly heavy, etc.
8) "Shock groups" (i.e., professions and enterprises especially important for production) are transferred, by resolution of the SNK (sometimes, by special rules) and the Defense Council, into categories 2, 3, etc.
9) For non-workers, unemployed, then traders, etc., a particularly low norm is established. Exceptions.
10) Special exceptions for children and the ill.

33824

Proposed name:
"Decree on Greater Uniformity of Food Rations and on the Labor Ration as the Basis of the Entire Food System."

What was formerly called the "general civilian norm," rename as

# YEAR 1920

"norm of the unemployed and petty proprietors" or: citizens engaged in their own occupations, not working, etc. (or: "petty proprietors"), "not working in Soviet enterprises and institutions."

Advantages: (1) in the capitals and in all non-agricultural, factory cities enormous simplification (since there the masses work in Soviet enterprises or in Soviet institutions).

(2) In non-industrial cities we c l e a r l y separate the population not working in Soviet enterprises and in Soviet institutions, and this population must g r a d u a l l y be r e m o v e d from rations (either cultivate your own garden, or go to work in Soviet enterprises or Soviet institutions).

We will n o t feed those who do not work in Soviet enterprises, nor in Soviet institutions.

Calculate at what system there will be f e w e r c a r d s and the whole system will be simpler.

Lenin

RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM TAGANROG

29 April 1920

Moscow, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin
To the Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee Kalinin*

The district party conference of the RCP of the Taganrog district is outraged at the chaos being created around the question of the borders of the Donetsk province and the Don region. Lugansk telegraphs orders to Taganrog, citing a Council of People's Commissars resolution, for it to submit to it; Rostov telegraphs to Taganrog that the borders of the Don region remain as before. Part of the Taganrog district, without the knowledge and consent of the Taganrog district revolutionary committee, has already been occupied by Donetsk province, where representatives of Lugansk threaten representatives of Taganrog with arrest and armed force. The party conference urgently requests that these outrages be stopped, which are completely disorganizing the work of the Taganrog district military committee and the provincial revolutionary committees locally.

Presidium of the Conference

* At the top of the telegram there is a note from the Secretariat of the Council of Labor and Defense, made on the instruction of V. I. Lenin: "Copies to Stalin, Vladimirsky."

Vladimirsky is ill. Coordinate with the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (Vasiliev?) and act to have the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs t a k e m e a s u r e s.

Lenin

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LENIN MISCELLANY

ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK "THE INFANTILE DISORDER OF 'LEFT-WING' COMMUNISM"

LETTER TO G. V. CHICHERIN

Early May 1920

Comrade Chicherin!

I would ask you and Feinberg (or if you are occupied, a comrade of your designation who knows English socialist movements excellently) to review my booklet or the chapter on England and give me your advice as to whether I have made any errors or indiscretions. For practical corrections, if you would not mind, I would very much ask you to note them separately in pencil.

Your Lenin

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LETTER TO PETROGRAD

23 May 1920

Petrograd comrades publishing my booklet on the leftists:

1) I ask you to verify the final proofs against the corrections entered here in the proofs;

2) I ask you to send me this enclosed proofsheet back;

3) in the "addendum" I ask you to particularly correct the places on p. 5 marked on the margins with signs:

1)))
(return to me after verification); 

and 2)))

4) I ask you to inform me by telephone-telegram the name of the comrade responsible for verification and for the final publication. (Also, when you are releasing it).

5) You do not need to wait for further corrections from me.

Lenin

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YEAR 1920

NOTE TO N. A. SEMASHKO

3 May 1920

If Comrade Semashko is not in, then for Comrade Solovyev

Comrade Semashko!

I ask you to receive the bearer, Comrade Dmitry Nikitich Erogienkov, a medical assistant. He has been recommended to me by a very reliable comrade. Comrade Erogienkov has a few weeks free (until a special assignment which we will give him) and during this time he would like, on the one hand, to study medicine, and on the other, to apply his efforts to it. I very much ask you to help him.

Your Lenin

P.S. The comrade has an invention of a very p r a c t i c a l disinfection chamber. It must be checked and utilized.

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TELEGRAM OF V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN TO L. B. KRASIN AND M. M. LITVINOV

COPENHAGEN

8 May 1920

In response to your numbers 34, 35, 49, 43 and 48, we report: 1) The contracts with the consortium of Swedish metal-working and locomotive-building plants are satisfactory; sign them. Clarify whether the agreed method of payment with provision of credit to us applies to all Swedish metal goods we purchase, or exclusively to orders we will place hereafter. 2) Gold in Reval for thirty-two million crowns will be sent upon your request.

3) We doubt whether Scandinavian industry could significantly contribute to the restoration of our transport. The supply of a thousand locomotives over a six-year period confirms this. We attach significance to the concluded contract chiefly with the aim of influencing the major locomotive-building plants of Europe and America. 4) Further expenditure of gold must be extremely limited. We consider the political circumstances of the moment insufficiently favorable for placing a significant part of our fund abroad. We will communicate separately the nomenclature of goods and their quantity for which you may be granted the right to pay in gold.

5) What is the status of the regulation of the orders issued by Vorovsky, and what is the fate of Russian gold placed in Sweden by the Provisional Government?

Lenin. Stalin

Printed from typewritten copy.

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EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH I. V. STALIN

13 May 1920

Comrade Stalin!

If you find an absolutely reliable expert, a specialist in this matter, request his opinion and do not refuse to inform me*.

Your Lenin

25 May 1920

To Lenin!

In response to your request I send the opinion of someone who knows the matter—the manager of the financial department of the Workers and Peasants Inspectorate, Citizen Achkasov. Nogin's project appears to me to be the fruit of careerist aspirations of a group of officials seeking to create new sinecures. It should be rejected just as the so-called GVUPT was rejected.

Your I. Stalin

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ON THE RECEPTION OF AN ENGLISH WORKERS' DELEGATION

INSTRUCTION TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIATS

15 May 1920

In the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, for the reception of the English delegation, diagrams of the work of the Commissariat, brief numerical reports, and an English translator for providing explanations have been prepared. If measures have not been taken in other Commissariats, I propose urgent measures be taken. Regarding the printing of brief numerical reports, coordinate with Vorovsky*.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

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NOTES ON A REPORT FROM THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLY

ON THE FOOD SUPPLY OF THE OREKHOVO-ZUEV DISTRICT FOR APRIL-MAY 1920

15 May 1920

1) Tomorrow, 16 May, 2 cars—1 car of meat + 1 car of fat from Moscow.

2) Wheat 3 cars from Nizhny—gifts for children.

3) Salt, not yet.

4) From 25 May, improvement.

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DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON THE PROCUREMENT OF RAW MATERIALS**

25 May 1920

Create a commission with the task within a two-week period:

1) to develop measures for uniting all procurement of grain and raw materials in a single department or with sufficiently firm and appropriate coordination of the corresponding departments for this. The mandatory use of the cooperative apparatus.

2) The commission must especially consider the question of the application of the food army and internal security troops to the matter of procurement of all kinds of raw materials, then on the conditions and concrete amounts of the application of premiums and commodity exchange (as a general rule, collective), in particular the return to peasants of part of the raw materials they have surrendered in the form of processed product.

3) The application of universal assessment to raw material procurement is mandatory, as is the fixing of prices.

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CORRESPONDENCE OF V. I. LENIN, I. V. STALIN AND S. M. KIROV*

25 May 1920

In my opinion, we need to request Kirov or Sergo.

Stalin

Ginis has been arrested in connection with platinum speculation discovered in Baku. The Special Department took 45 pounds of platinum from Ginis's office. It is supposed that the platinum was being prepared for export abroad. Permit me to clarify details on the spot in Baku, where I will be in a week.

S. Kirov

Let Kirov undertake to send a telegram about this matter a week after his arrival.

Lenin

Good.

Kirov

* The correspondence was conducted on the margins of the telegram received by V. I. Lenin on 24 May 1920 from Baku with a request to release S. P. Ginis from arrest.

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NOTE TO L. A. FOTIYEVA

25 May 1920

In connection with the directive of the Central Committee to tighten up in every way and especially the duty personnel on Sundays and holidays, I ask you to immediately work out and give me for signature the rules on r e s p o n s i b l e (Glässer, Volodicheva, Kizas, etc.) duty personnel in the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars and the Council of Defense on S u n d a y s  a n d  h o l i d a y s  specially (and also on weekdays). H o u r s and other details.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

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REMARKS ON THE DRAFT DECREE

ON MEASURES FOR THE PROPER DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSING

AMONG THE WORKING POPULATION*

25 May 1920

In my opinion, § 9 is no good. The people's courts are weak.

It is necessary to obligate the local sanitary departments (+ committees for the struggle against counterrevolution)

(a) to issue mandatory rules

(b) to punish, without trial, by arrest for up to 1 month and compulsory labor for up to 2 months for uncleanliness, etc.

(c) to organize mass control over cleanliness (through special detachments at the Soviets).

Lenin

* The text of the decree, amended in accordance with the remarks of V. I. Lenin published here, was adopted by the Council of People's Commissars on 25 May 1920 and published in "Izvestiya of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" on 4 June 1920. In § 9 of this decree it said:

"9. Persons maintaining their dwellings in dirty, unsanitary condition, damaging it, by their behavior violating internal order, are subject in administrative order, upon the determination of the housing-sanitary inspectorate and housing-land departments, to deprivation of freedom for up to one month or compulsory labor for up to 3 months.

Control over the implementation of all the above is vested in the housing-land departments, organs of housing-sanitary inspectorate and workers and peasants inspectorate as appropriate."

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OUTLINE OF RESOLUTIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON GRAIN RESOURCES*

26 May 1920

1) Express satisfaction with the increase in procurements

2) require monthly data

3) distinguish what has been brought to stations from what has been procured

4) help the procurers (§ 4)

5) strengthen transport (§ 5)

6) gardens?

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NOTES AND ADDITIONS TO THE DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON HIGHER TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS**

Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars:

1. All instruction in higher technical educational institutions must strictly correspond to the present needs of the RSFSR.

2. Instruction must be conducted on the basis of p r a c t i c a l study of production processes and the organization of production at state enterprises. Plans for student work at these enterprises are established by higher technical educational institutions by agreement with the corresponding economic organs.

3. As a result of the measures outlined in the present resolution and appropriate concentration of instruction, higher technical educational institutions establish a three-year course...

6. Admitted students are entered into state service and are obliged by the rules of studies: with the strictest control over classes, on the basis of special rules established by the Chief Committee of Labor together with the Chief Board of Professional Education.

27 May 1920

??

This is not Russian. But it is clear.

?? When then?

Time of introduction is determined separately??

7. Students and instructors in respect of supply are equated with military educational institutions, whereby the norms themselves are established by the Commission on Workers' Supply at the People's Commissariat of Food Supply.

Note: For days of absence from classes, students, in addition to other measures (p. 6) are deprived of rations.

Reports once a month to the Council of People's Commissars, brief: number of students; number of attendances at lectures; number of auditors and public.

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ON MEASURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBURBAN AGRICULTURE

DISPOSITION TO THE SECRETARY

27 May 1920

To the Moscow and Petrograd Soviets add (when communicating today's decision on gardens*), that we also await measures for the accounting and seizure of surpluses from suburban gardeners**.

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RESOLUTION ON A TELEPHONE DISPATCH FROM THE PETROGRAD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

28 June 1920

Check when we requested***.

Put them on notice of the inadmissibility of delay. They are obliged to give a brief answer i m m e d i a t e l y; we will allow postponement (they must request: f o r  h o w  m a n y  d a y s) only upon a more detailed report. Give me the text of the response telegram to them.

* Having discussed on 27 May 1920 the question of grain resources, the Council of People's Commissars resolved: "Instruct the Moscow and Petrograd Soviets to pay increased attention to the necessity of increasing the receipt of garden products from places near the capitals this year and submit their proposals on possible measures to the Council of People's Commissars within 2 weeks" (protocol no. 370, item 5).

* * In connection with the secretary's question (in a note on the margins of the document): "in the protocol or only in the telephone dispatch?" V. I. Lenin underlined the words: "only in the telephone dispatch."

* * * The reference is to V. I. Lenin's requests sent to Petrograd on 28 May, 22 and 26 June, regarding the quantity of garden products.

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ON THE WORKING OUT OF THESES ON THE NATIONAL AND COLONIAL QUESTIONS

OUTLINES OF A PLAN AND NOTES*

Early June 1920

C o m m i s s i o n  o n  t h e  n a t i o n a l  q u e s t i o n

(1 June 1920).

Our party program on the national question (its subpoints).

Austrian experience.

Ukrainian experience.

Belgian experience.

Alsace-Lorraine.

Balkan experience.

Danish-German relations.

Separatism in Germany?

Eastern peoples:
Bashkirs
Tatars
Kyrgyz
Turkic peoples.

S t r u g g l e  a g a i n s t  p a n - I s l a m i s m

Colonies...

America and Negroes.

Definitely request Stalin.

No. 1—Rapprochement... its forms...

Concrete proposals on how to bring closer together.

One general organization (party?) with workers in several languages? or national sub-sections? finances? appointment of officials?

2) Abolition of privileges

(a) form? laws? administrative practice?

(b) "complete equality" in the constitution?

Cf. Constitution of the RSFSR, other laws, etc.

(c) "recognition of the right of colonies and unequal nations to separate."

Real guarantees: not only in words, but i n  d e e d (elaborate and make concrete—form of declaration in parliaments, etc.). Namely: in deed h e l p to revolutionary struggle and uprisings in colonies.

3) Federal union—as a form of transition to complete unity.

Experience of the RSFSR: concrete accounting for the content of federation (railways, post, military affairs, n a t i o n a l  e c o n o m y, etc.).

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NOTES ON A TELEGRAM FROM G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE

8 June 1920

Moscow, to Lenin, Stalin, Chicherin

Baku, 8 June. The peace delegation* returned today. They will meet again tomorrow. The Georgians present impossible demands and do not want to recognize the mixed commission. Azerbaijan agrees to the border as it was before the coup. We must press the Georgians and force them to agree to the old border. Regarding the Polinski Bridge and the Red Bridge, it is necessary either to neutralize them or to station Azerbaijani troops on one side and Georgian on the other. Do not consider these questions as unworthy of attention, since counterrevolution is speculating on this, indicating that without Bolsheviks the Georgians would not have dared touch us, but now they are seizing our lands.

Ordzhonikidze

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NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

9 June 1920

I ask you to send Litvinov and Krasin a cipher of this kind:

In Paris, arrondissement XIV, on Victor Considérant Street 5, lives Monsieur Weisbein, who has a suitcase with my party and personal archives. Try to obtain it in an ultra-conspiratorial manner. Weisbein works at the office "Florence," Boulevard Saint-Michel, 40.

Lenin

Remind me to speak about this with Chicherin**.

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RESOLUTION

14 June 1920

By the protocol of Comrades Belenky, Ivanychev and Gabalin it has been established that by the disposition of the director of the sanatorium, Comrade Wever, on 14 June 1920, a completely healthy spruce tree was felled in the park of the sanatorium.

For allowing such damage to Soviet property, I order Comrade Wever, the director of the sanatorium at the Soviet estate Gorky, subjected to a r r e s t  f o r  1  m o n t h.

The sentence is to be carried out by the Podolsk district executive committee, furthermore:

(1) if it is discovered that Comrade Wever has not previously been subjected to penalties, then after one week of arrest release him conditionally with a warning that in case of a new allowing of improper felling of the park, alleys, forest or other damage to Soviet property, he will be subjected not only, in addition to the new punishment, to arrest for 3 weeks, but also removed from his position.

(2) The time period for carrying out the sentence is to be determined by the District Executive Committee—by agreement with the District Land Department or the administration of Soviet farms, so that rural work and agriculture suffer no least damage.

I entrust Comrade Belenky with announcing this resolution to Comrade Wever and his assistants, taking from them a signed statement that they have been informed of this and notified that the next similar violation will result in punishment of all employees and workers, not just the director.

I entrust the District Executive Committee with reporting to me the time appointed for carrying out the arrest and its actual carrying out.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

RESOLUTION AND NOTES ON A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE PULKOVO OBSERVATORY

20 June 1920

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

The Chief Russian Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo, for the purpose of ensuring and properly organizing scientific work at the observatory, deems it necessary to fulfill the following points, on whose approval it submits a petition:

1) Place the Pulkovo Observatory directly under central authority in Moscow, granting it the right to communicate directly not only with the head of the central (Moscow) scientific department, but also with the Commissar and deputy commissar of education, as well as with other central authorities...

Comrade Pokrovsky!

Based on Gorky's opinion, help is necessary. Please give me your opinion.

Lenin

4) Pass the statute of the Pulkovo Observatory through the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Education and through the Council of People's Commissars, recognizing as necessary the connection of the observatory in scientific terms with the Russian Academy of Sciences.

5) Recognize the great importance of the Pulkovo Observatory for the Russian Republic, as the observatory, according to the statement of foreign specialists, is the leading astronomical institution not only in Russia but in the whole world; as it trains military geodesists and naval hydrographers for practical work; and finally serves with precise time all g o v e r n m e n t institutions of Russia and the courts of the military fleet.

6) In accordance with point 5, recognize all employees, whose number does not exceed 50, as registered in the sense of military service and not subject to mobilization, with the condition, however, that the strength of these persons may be, in exceptional cases, utilized for military purposes, on condition of their remaining in service at Pulkovo.

7) Recognize the employees of the Pulkovo Observatory as subject to food supply satisfaction by an increased ration, at least not less than that of a front-line Red Army soldier, as has already been done for certain institutions.

Will be received at the House of Scientists.

---

NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE

20 June 1920

I ask you to render every assistance to Gorky in equipping the building of the Expert Commission* with fire-fighting means.

Do not refuse to inform me what and when has been done.

The red tape, they say, is terrible.

With communist greetings

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* The reference is to the Expert Commission established in February 1920 under the chairmanship of A. M. Gorky for the creation of an antiquarian export fund.

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LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLY

22 June 1920

I propose to ensure Citizen Tyrkov, one of the last of the heroic group of Narodnaya Volya, a participant in the trial concerning the murder of Alexander II,—now Citizen Tyrkov in very advanced years—with two or three dessiatinas of land from his former estate and 2 cows for his family.

The disposition is to be carried out expeditiously by the People's Commissar of Agriculture, Comrade Sereda, and the People's Commissar of Food Supply, Comrade Tsyurupa (or his deputy) by agreement, by telegraph, with the local provincial executive committee.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

I ask the Commissars to sign: do you agree or not?

Remind me so there will be notification of execution from the N a r k o m z e m.

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FROM A NOTE TO THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

29 June 1920

1) Force the State Publishing House to quickly publish (with abridgments) the book Keynes: "Economic Consequences of the Peace"**;

2) set a n u m b e r of private docents to work on the translation and compilation of the best... and other n e w economic works;

3) attract Akselrod (Lyubov Akselrod) to editorship of the philosophical department;

4) publish a series of translations of materialists (17th and 18th centuries) and a series of compilations from their works.

Lenin

** Keynes. "Economic Consequences of Peace."

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ON THERMOS BOTTLES

TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET

29 June 1920

Enclosing an extract from the brochure "Cooking Food Without Fire" (p. 43 no. 1 "Little Housewife's Library," publ. Supreme Council of the National Economy, Moscow, 1918*)**, I ask you to inform me of the results of the competition for thermoses announced by the Food Department of the Moscow Soviet**.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

* In the extract mentioned by V. I. Lenin it says:

"In the absence of coal and oil fuel and insufficient firewood supplies, thermoses must play a major role. Recognizing their significance, the Food Department of the Moscow Soviet of Workers' and Red Army Deputies announced a competition for thermoses—of large and small sizes. Three prizes were established: for apparatus of half a pail 10,000 rubles, 5,000 rubles and 3,000 rubles, for drawings of apparatus of 5 pails—5,000 rubles and 3,000 rubles. Deadline for submission of apparatus and drawings—20 October 1918."

** In the report presented to V. I. Lenin on 16 July 1920, the board of the Moscow consumer union reported that the competition for thermoses ended on 1 October 1918. The results of the competition were communicated by the competition commission to the Food Department in May 1919. Simultaneously with the work of the competition commission, the Food Department began to use thermoses made exclusively of wood (plywood and wood shavings). Thermoses of this design were distinguished by their lightness—about 32 pounds for a three-pail vessel, allowed finishing cooking and storing hot food suitable for eating without reheating for 18–20 hours.

---

NOTE

Return the little book "Cooking Without Fire" to me.

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LETTER TO THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

30 June 1920

To the Small Council

Copies: 1) People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs
2) People's Commissariat of Nationalities

Comrade Marchlewski informs me of the extreme delay in the matter of transferring from the People's Commissariat of Nationalities to the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs the liquidation commission on the affairs of the former Kingdom of Poland.

I ask you to expedite the consideration of this matter (final) and inform me precisely when it will be decided.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM THE PHOTO-CINEMA DEPARTMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF EDUCATION*

8 July 1920

Comrade Krasin!

I ask you to p r e s s  v e r y  h a r d and fulfill the request quickly.

Lenin

* The letter reported on the progress of work on the production, in accordance with V. I. Lenin's assignment, of the film "Trial of Kolchak's Ministers": "The Photo-Cinema Department can immediately begin production of the film and complete it in two, at most three, weeks, but at the present moment no work can be done because of the absolute lack of film... All efforts of the Department produce no results: the supply of film from abroad has long ceased; speculators sold in small quantities, constantly raising the price, the old small supplies they had hidden, which apparently are completely exhausted... Despite e n d l e s s petitions, appeals and visits to the Foreign Trade Organization, despite even your telegraph instruction to purchase film abroad, the Photo-Cinema Department constantly meets only refusals, and has still received nothing from anywhere."

---

TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF HEALTH

8 July 1920

According to information I have, you are storing without use photographic film for photo-cinematographic work.

In view of the acute need of the Photo-Cinematographic Department of the People's Commissariat of Education and a number of urgent works that have great agitational significance, I ask you to transfer at least part of your supply to the Photo-Cinematographic Department of the People's Commissariat of Education.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

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ON THE DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

"ON THE CENTRALIZATION OF LIBRARY AFFAIRS IN THE REPUBLIC"

NOTE TO THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

15 July 1920

I refused to sign because it is sweeping and unclear. I propose to rework it more precisely (what exactly does "bring into the network" mean more concretely?) and together with instructions submit it a 2nd time*.

Lenin

* In the draft adopted in the Small Council of People's Commissars on 22 June 1920, it was provided—for the purpose of eliminating duplication in work and proper use of all existing book wealth and even distribution—that "libraries of all public organizations and institutions flow into the general library network of the Departments of Public Education." All newly opened libraries by public organizations must necessarily be included "in the general network of public libraries."

The document is printed from the manuscript of V. I. Lenin (received from the Central State Archive of the October Revolution, file 1827).

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ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO A DRAFT DECREE WRITTEN BY N. K. KRUPSKAYA

3 November 1920

recognize as absolutely necessary

And likewise other departments all, without exception, central and local institutions

central and local, entering which work under direction

this work? see at the end?

1) In view of the huge increase over recent years and continued growth in demand for books, the Council of People's Commissars resolves: to pay special attention to* the organization of public use of books, without which books will never be accessible to the broad masses of the population.

2) To this end, all libraries under the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat of Education,V are united in the Unified Library Network of the RSFSR, which works according to a definite plan, establishes the basic types of libraries, connects them by means of traveling libraries, organizes exchange of books between libraries and thus brings books closer to the reader—the worker and peasant**.

3) In view of the acute book famine and the quantity of book wealth that is completely insufficient to the enormous demand, no duplication is permissible in library affairs. Therefore libraries of all other departments, public organizations and institutions must also enter the Unified Library Network and work according to a general plan, under the control of the People's Commissariat of Education.

4) For the coordination of library work, there is created under the People's Commissariat of Education an interdepartmental commission composed of representatives of the departments and organizations conducting it.

5) This commission decides questions about the reorganization of certain types of libraries, about the redistribution of book wealth, about the transition of certain types of libraries to the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat of Education and about the opening of new libraries upon the request of departments and organizations (naturally with their inclusion in the general network).

6) Libraries of all departments and organizations must change from closed to open, i.e., become libraries of public use, accessible to all citizens.

* The words underlined here in the original are crossed out by V. I. Lenin and replaced with new text.

** V. I. Lenin corrected the end of this phrase: "this network must work according to a definite plan, establish the basic types of libraries, connect them by means of traveling libraries, organize exchange of books between libraries and thus bring books closer to the worker and peasant reader."

7) Specialized libraries at scientific, educational and professional institutions, necessary for systematic scientific work, remain with the institutions that organized them, on the absolute condition of the existence of a reading room accessible to all readers.

8) State public libraries, Petrograd and Moscow (Rumyantsev), are supplied on special bases, but book collections, provided the necessary technical conditions exist, must be accessible for use by the whole network.

9) Libraries at schools, at pre-school, at professional technical educational institutions and central school libraries remain with the corresponding institutions and serve only those readers for whom they are intended. Making these libraries available for general use on a par with public libraries is permitted by decision of the local Provincial Department.

10) Libraries entering the Unified Library Network are supplied through the People's Commissariat of Education.

11) Supply of libraries with books through the People's Commissariat of Education in strict accordance with the information provided by the Departments of Public Education regarding the quantity and types of libraries entering the Library Network.

12) Books coming into the disposition of the Departments of Public Education are distributed among libraries of all types through library collectors.

Note: at main libraries open children's sections and in any case

See at the end

NB

§ 9 combine with § 7. See at the end

Is this convenient? specialized libraries??

? which? what is this?

must be opened must

It is necessary to rework the end and s e p a r a t e, i.e., better develop the entire draft.

§§ 4 and 5 (Central library commission?) must be reworked: (a) write which departments send representatives to the commission and how many

(b) give preponderance to the People's Commissariat of Education (how?)

(c) more precisely define the rights of this commission (in a number of points)

(d) do not submit the draft until there is a competent candidate for chairman of the commission.

§§ 7 and 8 must be reworked roughly as follows:

General use of specialized libraries (i.e., § 7 and § 9) and of two state-wide ones (Petrograd and Moscow (Rumyantsev)) is subject to certain limitations because of such-and-such reasons. Limitations are established by the C e n t r a l  L i b r a r y  C o m m i s s i o n under the People's Commissariat of Education.

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ON MOBILIZATION OF FORCES IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST WRANGEL

NOTE ON A DRAFT DIRECTIVE OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b) WRITTEN BY I. V. STALIN

26 July 1920

I am for i m m e d i a t e distribution, as an undisputable matter.

Lenin

DRAFT BY COMRADE STALIN

TO ALL PARTY ORGANIZATIONS

(Circular)

According to our information, a group of experienced reckless generals-cutthroats has gathered around Wrangel, who will stop at nothing.

Wrangel's soldiers are welded into units magnificently, fight desperately, and prefer suicide to capture.

Technically Wrangel's troops are supplied better than ours; supplies of tanks, armored cars, airplanes, ammunition, uniforms from the West continue to this day, despite Britain's declaration of cessation of supplies.

The weakness of our troops fighting against Wrangel consists in the fact that: first, they are diluted with war prisoners, former Denikin troops, who frequently desert to the enemy, and second, they do not receive from the center either in groups or as individuals volunteer communists or mobilized communists.

It is necessary to cleanse these troops of former war prisoners and supply them regularly with large contingents of volunteers or mobilized communists in order to effect a shift in them and give them the possibility to defeat the most fierce enemy.

Crimea must be returned to Russia at any cost, for otherwise Ukraine and the Caucasus will always be threatened by the enemies of Soviet Russia.

The Central Committee obligates you to strengthen mass agitation in the spirit of the present circular letter and without delay to organize the dispatch to the Crimean front of volunteer communists and non-party members.

The Central Committee of the RCP(b)

Printed from typewritten copy.

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TELEGRAM TO I. V. STALIN

2 August 1920

Urgent. In cipher

To Stalin

We have just conducted in the Politburo a division of the fronts so that you would concentrate exclusively on Wrangel. In connection with uprisings, especially in the Kuban, and then in Siberia, the danger from Wrangel is becoming enormous, and within the Central Committee there is growing a tendency to immediately conclude peace with bourgeois Poland. I ask you very carefully to discuss the situation regarding Wrangel with the commander and give your conclusion. I have agreed with the Commander-in-Chief that he will give you more ammunition, reinforcements, and airplanes. Dzerzhinsky, together with his friends, has founded a Polish Revolutionary Committee and issued a manifesto.

Lenin

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NOTE TO D. I. KURSKY*

July 1920

Have measures been taken to i m m e d i a t e l y: (1) create Soviet power in the liberated territories; (2) convoke c o n g r e s s e s of Soviets; (3) expel landowners, distribute part of their land to poor peasants, the rest to soviets of farm laborers?

* D. I. Kursky informed V. I. Lenin about a subsequent report received in the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic on the situation at the Western Front that the offensive of the 15th Army was developing successfully, the Poles are retreating (captured 5 guns, 20 thousand poods of hay, cars with automobile equipment and other trophies). Uprisings in Minsk province, partisans have knocked five trains off the tracks.

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RESOLUTION ON A NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY

July 1920

Two comrades are waiting in the reception room, brought from Azerbaijan, with a mandate from Narimanov. at Your disposition 6 cars of caviar. Awaiting Your orders.

To the Commissariat of Food Supply for the children

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RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TULA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*

9 August 1920

1) Send to Lobachev (People's Commissariat of Food Supply) for taking measures

2) and for reporting back to me

3) demand explanation from the People's Commissariat of Railways of the case (250 versts 12 days**)

4) expedite progress on item 3

5) on the agenda of the Council of People's Commissars on Tuesday.

NOTE TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF JUSTICE

12 August 1920

Comrade Kursky!

Who publishes so poorly?***

Chaos. Even the title is unclear.

A collection of trifles—and proclamations.

A stupid person or a saboteur edited?

One should publish the most important c u r r e n t l y  e f f e c t i v e (now, 1920) laws in the same volume.

Lenin

*** The reference is to a collection of current decrees of 1919, reprinted from "Collection of Laws and Orders of the Workers and Peasants Government" for 1919.

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NOTE TO THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

12 August 1920

To the Small Council: I ask you to consider the request (§ b in part in the Orgburo). We must satisfy it in a certain part, for the struggle against illiteracy is a task more important than others.

Lenin

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****Written on a letter from the leaders of the All-Russian Emergency Commission for the Elimination of Illiteracy with a request to strengthen the commission with the necessary personnel. In section "b" of the letter it said: "We need people, a dozen and a half qualified and unqualified workers. Recall from the localities, mobilize in Moscow."

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TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF RESORTS AND SANATORIUMS OF THE CAUCASUS

17 August 1920

I ask you in every way to help the best arrangement and treatment of the bearer, Comrade Inessa Fedorovna Armand, with her sick son.

I ask you to extend complete confidence to and every assistance for these party comrades known to me personally.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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NOTES ON NOTES FROM SECRETARIES

17 August 1920

Reed asks you to receive him today for 5 minutes. Good. When does the Council finish?

A very important matter. At 9 o'clock?

Vladimir Ilyich probably will not receive John Reed—it is already late, the matter will drag on?

Reed is sitting in his room and awaiting a call. (He, by the way, has learned Russian perfectly!)

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If he is very insistent and for 5 minutes, let him come now.

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ON RATIONS FOR PETROGRAD SCIENTISTS

RESOLUTIONS ON LETTERS FROM A. M. GORKY

18 August 1920

I ask the Small Council to consider the matter as quickly as possible and if possible satisfy*

* In his letter to the Council of People's Commissars, A. M. Gorky, on behalf of the Petrograd Commission for the Improvement of the Welfare of Scientists, asked to preserve 2 thousand academic rations issued for Petrograd scientists.

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21 October 1920

To the Council of People's Commissars

In view of the fact that the products sent by the Gubfoodcommittees with permission of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply for the Petrograd "Commission for the Improvement of the Welfare of Scientists" the Petrograd Commune intends to requisition,—the chairman of the Petrograd Commission for the Improvement of the Welfare of Scientists asks the Council of People's Commissars to resolve:

All products sent by Gubfoodcommittees with permission of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply for the Petrograd Commission for the Improvement of the Welfare of Scientists are not subject to requisition or write-off as a credit against the norm of the ration for Petrograd scientists approved by the Council of People's Commissars by the Petrograd Commune.

Grounds for the petition:

From the ration of the Petrograd Commune the scientist must allocate up to 6% for the benefit of employees of the House of Scientists and often for employees of such institutions as laboratories, offices, libraries, etc. If he does not feed his immediate assistants, they will scatter to positions with rations. Furthermore,—the scientist divides his ration with his family.

Therefore, the House of Scientists must necessarily purchase additional products in order to support its clients, among whom there are many elderly and sick people requiring enhanced nutrition.

M. Gorky

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NOTE ON A DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE WRITTEN BY I. V. STALIN

20 August 1920

Resolution of the Council of Labor and Defense

Instruct the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic to give instructions to the Crimean and Caucasus fronts, obligating our divisions upon withdrawal to take from the population all foodstuff surpluses and deprive of horses the territory we temporarily abandon (without harming workers).

Approved in the Council of Defense**.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

To the Small Council of People's Commissars. I ask you to consider this matter a s  q u i c k l y  a s  p o s s i b l e. From the enclosed it is evident that the disposition of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply (center) gives these products to the disposition of the Commission for the Improvement of the Welfare of Scientists (Commission for the Improvement of the Welfare of Scientists). Consequently, without the consent of the center Petrograd has no right to requisition and write off!

Lenin

* The text of the draft resolution was written by I. V. Stalin; the phrase in parentheses and the note on approval were written by V. I. Lenin.

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NOTE ON A LETTER FROM I. V. STALIN

20 August 1920

To the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP(b)

I propose to order the member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasus Front, Comrade Ordzhonikidze, to leave immediately for Rostov and assume the duties of member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Front, leaving his deputy in Baku one of the members of the Caucasus Bureau of the Central Committee or anyone else of his choosing*.

Stalin

I am for.

Lenin

* The Politburo accepted I. V. Stalin's proposal. On the same day, 20 August 1920, V. I. Lenin sent a telegram to G. K. Ordzhonikidze about this.

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TELEGRAM TO PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

SAMARA, SARATOV, POKROVSK, NEMKOM, UFA, SARAPUL, ROSTOV-DON

26 August 1920

Despite a categorical order from the Center over the signature of the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars to your Gubfoodcommittee, fulfillment of the seed assignment by the bases is almost nonexistent. Such disregard by the Gubfoodcommittee of orders from the Center is criminal. I insist on the most urgent fulfillment of the assignment, I ask you to order the Gubfoodcommittee with the most severe responsibility to expeditiously ship all seed rye. Report execution by telegram.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

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TELEGRAM TO ALL PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

26 August 1920

By telegrams no. 584/t and 500/ba, your Gubfoodcommittee and Gublandcommittee were given a battle order to take the most urgent measures for internal distribution of rye within the province...

Urgently inform of the progress of the seed campaign, threshing of the harvest, of all measures taken for fulfillment of the battle task.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

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NOTES TO THE SMALL COUNCIL ON V. V. VOROVSKY

27 August 1920

To the Small Council

In view of Comrade Vorovsky's extremely serious and dangerous illness (typhoid fever, inflammation of the lungs, etc.), I ask you to urgently resolve to grant a large subsidy for treatment and intensified nutrition.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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29 September 1920

I support this request, for I saw myself Vorovsky's serious condition and received the same instruction from some comrades*.

Lenin

* Written on a memorandum from V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich to the Small Council of People's Commissars with a request for a subsidy for V. V. Vorovsky.

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28 October 1920

To the Small Council: I ask you to consider the request. If it is impossible to find a nurse on other conditions, we will perhaps have to i n c u r f u r t h e r e x p e n s e. It is absolutely necessary to complete the cure and s e n d h i m t o I t a l y.

Lenin

# RESOLUTION ON THE TELEGRAM FROM SARATOV
31 August 1920

To the Small Soviet: it is necessary to centralize and unite relief, distributing it correctly.

Lenin

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# ANNOTATION ON A MEMORANDUM FROM G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE
August 1920

To Comrade Lenin

I request information on the state of peace with Poland.

I request Chicherin to answer.

Ordzhonikidze

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# ON THE "PROLETCULT" AND PROLETARIAN CULTURE

# MEMORANDUM TO M. N. POKROVSKY
August 1920

Comrade Pokrovsky

1) What is the legal status of the Proletcult?

2) What is and 3) by whom is appointed its directing center?

4) How much financing do you provide it from the People's Commissariat of Education?

5) What else is **important** concerning the position, role, and results of the Proletcult's work.

Lenin

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# ANNOTATIONS ON A MEMORANDUM FROM M. N. POKROVSKY
24 August 1920

To Comrade V. I. Lenin, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

In response to your inquiry regarding the Proletcult, I report that it is an autonomous organization working under the supervision of the People's Commissariat of Education and subsidized by it. The remaining information of interest to you is set forth in the enclosed report...

[Lenin's annotation:] How to make it real.

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# SKETCH OF A RESOLUTION ON PROLETARIAN CULTURE
8 October 1920

1. Not special ideas, but Marxism.

2. Not the invention of a new proletarian culture, but the **development** of the best models, traditions, results of **existing** culture from the viewpoint of the Marxist world-outlook and the conditions of life and struggle of the proletariat in the epoch of its dictatorship.

3. Not separate from the People's Commissariat of Education, but as part of it, because RCP + People's Commissariat of Education = the Proletcult.

4. Tight connection and subordination of the Proletcult to the People's Commissariat of Education.

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# NOTES FOR MEMORY
August 1920

Write a letter to the Cheremkhovo coal miners (remind me when Ilyin calls again).

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# ON THE DRAFT DECREE ON THE TURKESTAN REPUBLIC

# RESOLUTION ON THE DRAFT DECREE
3 September 1920

To Comrade Stalin for his opinion.

Lenin

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# OPINION OF I. V. STALIN
7 September 1920

I consider the draft insufficiently elaborated, full of glaring contradictions (for example subsection b) of section 4), in places carelessly composed. I propose submitting it to a commission comprising representatives of the People's Commissariat of Nationalities, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, and the People's Commissariat of Justice.

The People's Commissariat of Nationalities and the People's Commissariat of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection

I. Stalin

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# ANNOTATION ON A LETTER FROM ACTRESS N. NIKULINA
3 September 1920

Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich,

Only a hopeless situation compels me to trouble you with my most humble request...

[Lenin's annotation:] Check and get in touch: leave her alone.

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# MEMORANDUM TO L. A. FOTIEVA
6 September 1920

To Lidia Alexandrovna. Read, forward to the Scientific-Technical Department and **check** what has been done (letter to him?).

Lenin

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# LETTER TO A. G. SHLIKHTER
TAMBOV

9 September 1920

Comrade Shlikhter!

I have a request for you: Nadezhda Konstantinovna has acquaintances in Tambov—an elderly woman Azanchevskaya and her daughters: Elizaveta Nikolaevna and Anna Vasilievna Azanchevskaya.

Address: Tambov, Nikolaev Hotel, Room, it seems, No. 1.

She earnestly requests that you take measures to ensure they are provided very well in terms of food supplies. The old woman has fully deserved this.

Be so kind as to write me what you have done and whether you have taken measures so they are not forgotten in case you depart, etc.

How are things in Tambov province?

Famine?

Can you not feed them? (using local resources).

What measures are you taking?

Best greetings!

Your Lenin

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# ANNOTATIONS ON A LETTER FROM S. M. KIROV
11 September 1920

Dear Vladimir Ilyich,

I am sending you resolutions passed at the meetings of the "Anatolian and Rumelian Society for the Defense of Rights." Although these resolutions were adopted a year ago, they are of **great** interest even now, because the basis of the program of activity of Mustafa Kemal's government consists precisely in these resolutions.

There are no special news here. The Georgian government continues to stand in hesitation, not knowing precisely which way to lean—toward us or toward the Entente. Meanwhile, Georgia's economic life is being disrupted more and more with each day, and the moment is not far off when Noah Zhordania together with the Exarch of Georgia will have to sing "By the Rivers of Babylon."

With warm communist greetings

S. Kirov

Tiflis, 30 August 1920

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# ON MEASURES TO AID SIBERIAN PEASANTRY

# NOTES FROM A RECEPTION OF A SIBERIAN DELEGATE
17 September 1920

(Poroskin)

Measures in Siberia

1) feed the poor with local grain
2) coarse grinding (otherwise only 16 pounds remain)
3) give tar (organize tar production: not a pud of tar for a pud of bread)
4) give salt
5) give buildings for assemblies (requisition them)
6) threshers were compensated with grain; [this was] forbidden; it is necessary to organize threshing for grain
7) "zemstvo carting" is not organized: excessive labor from excessive carting imposed on peasants. Not organized. They cart it for nothing.

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# FROM A LETTER TO THE SIBERIAN REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE
26 September 1920

I am sending you the following points for your consideration. Write a few words about them.

Lenin

1. Pay attention to the rural poor of Siberia, provide them with food supplies from the local apportionment.

2. Organize tar production in Siberia with the involvement of the local Soviet and population (local tar production).

3. Peasants receive one pud of wheat and grind it for farina, obtaining 18—20 pounds of flour. It would be better if they made regular flour; the peasants will agree to this.

4. Pay special attention to rural smithies for repair of agricultural machines; supply them with coal.

Is it true that there have been cases in Siberia of using butter for lubricating carts (instead of tar)?

Lenin

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
23 September 1920

Comrade Chicherin! Here is the maximum boundary. Adopted by the Central Committee. It must be repeated exactly.

Lenin

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# LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLIES
26 September 1920

I am communicating an excerpt from a letter from Comrade Vladimirov (of 19 September):

"I have already agreed with Moscow for six days to send fifty routes to Ukraine for grain in the second half of September, but so far only one has arrived, meanwhile it is necessary to hurry. Perhaps you will encourage haste."

I request information on what measures have been taken.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLIES
27 September 1920

I am sending you two documents; I request you to read and return both to me:

1) concerning Ivanovo-Voznesensk province we will put [the question] in the Council of Defense on 29 September.

It is necessary to pay special attention and attempt to satisfy their requests to the greatest possible extent.

2) Concerning Tambov province.

Pay attention. Is the apportionment of 11 million puds correct? Should it not be reduced?

With communist greetings

Lenin

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
28 September 1920

Request information on the conditions of the loss of Pinsk, of headquarters and material resources in this connection.

Was the danger known beforehand?

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOVIET DELEGATION IN LONDON
29—30 September 1920

I will not read it. I have already written to Chicherin more than once: enough complaining; submit business proposals to the Central Committee.

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

End of September 1920

I will send Stalin a telegram from Frunze about the 1st Red Cavalry Army. Should I return it to you?

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# EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA WITH A. D. TSYURUPA
September 1920

**From Tsyurupa:** Can you not see me tomorrow at 11 o'clock in the morning? Let's talk on the telephone tomorrow at forty minutes past the hour. I am planning to depart for Kharkov for 5—7 days around Thursday. Are you doing this with the doctor's permission?

**Lenin's response:** Almost certainly yes. We'll get in touch. Today I cleared out at the sanatorium. In Tavrichesk province they took 2 million puds of grain from Wrangel. It would be good to take them quickly and ensure the Donbas.

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# ON THE SMOLENSK UNIVERSITY

# MEMORANDUM TO THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
3 October 1920

To the Small Soviet: do not give at all, in my opinion, because it is [possible] (and should be [possible]) to place the headquarters of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Western Front in **other buildings**, even if having to crowd a bit.

Lenin

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# TELEGRAM VIA DIRECT WIRE TO THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE WESTERN FRONT
COPY TO SKLYANSKY

2 November 1920

Despite the decree of the Council of People's Commissars on the evacuation of the Smolensk University buildings, you, according to a report from the People's Commissar of Health, Comrade Semashko, have not yet evacuated the buildings. I propose that you immediately execute the Council of People's Commissars' decree, evacuate the university buildings, and report on the execution.

The question of your non-execution of the Council of People's Commissars' decree and the imposition of penalties I am submitting to the Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF POSTS AND TELEGRAPH
12 October 1920

I propose that you immediately take all necessary measures to check and repair the direct wire to Kharkov in my office, since despite the amplifier, conversation with Kharkov is impossible.

Report to me immediately the causes of the damage and the measures taken to repair it.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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# ANNOTATION ON A LETTER FROM I. I. STEPANOV-SKVORTSOV
13 October 1920

Dear Vladimir Ilyich!

The double jubilee of Engels approaches. I venture to attempt to hastily write a popular book about him, requesting from the Central Committee an appropriate postponement of the work assigned to me on religion. Please, give me for the time being the biography of Engels written by Mayer.

With communist greetings

I. Skvortsov

[Lenin's annotation:] To I. I. Skvortsov. I gave it to Adoratsky.

Lenin

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# ON THE STRUGGLE AGAINST BANDS IN TAMBOV PROVINCE

# ORDER TO THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
15 October 1920

Give the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic an order or rather a precise command to achieve swift and complete liquidation. Report to me on the measures taken.

Chairman of the Council of Defense

Lenin

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# TO THE COMMANDER OF THE TROOPS OF INTERIOR GUARD
COPY TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY

19 October 1920

Comrade Shlikhter informs me of the intensification of the uprising in Tambov province, of the weakness of our forces, especially cavalry.

Swift (and exemplary) liquidation is absolutely necessary.

I request that you report what measures are being taken. It is necessary to display more energy and provide more forces.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

Vl. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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# LETTER TO THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE JOURNAL
"COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL"

16 October 1920

To the Editorial Board of "Comintern"

I cannot write something new. If you wish, obtain my brochure of 1906 "The Victory of the Kadets and the Tasks of the Working-Class Party" and reprint from it about dictatorship ("Retreat" and several other things).

It will come at a very opportune moment. I will write 20 lines of preface.

With communist greetings

Lenin

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# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLIES
21 October 1920

Stavropol peasants (who brought grain for children) complain that the cooperatives do not issue them:
- wheel grease (in stock)
- matches
- and other goods.

Herrings spoiled, and they did not issue them.

Discontent is terrible. The province food commissar refers to the fact that we will finish the entire apportionment and only then will we give them.

They insist on the necessity of **issuing immediately**.

The apportionment of 27 million puds—is excessive, and they are taking seeds. There will, [they say], necessarily be insufficient sowing.

Stavropol province—average harvest (27).

Kuban (37 million puds)—better than Stavropol.

I request that you urgently consider, especially the first point, and give me your opinion no later than tomorrow.

Address: Kazan [Station], freight depot, car No. 506.955, freight car on the Curved Way, Petrov from the Provincial Committee of the Party.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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# FROM A MEMORANDUM TO GOSIZDAAT
21 October 1920

1) First—cottage industries. Klein—a good book; more [are needed].

2) Second (Brodsky). An unnecessary and untimely enterprise.

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# ON THE ORGANIZATION OF COORDINATION BETWEEN ECONOMIC PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIATS

# DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
26 October 1920

Create a preliminary conference on the question of organizational coordination between all economic People's Commissariats.

Commission all economic People's Commissariats, particularly the People's Commissariat of Food Supplies, the Supreme Council of the National Economy, the People's Commissariat of Railways, and the People's Commissariat of Land, to present to this conference by Monday, 1 November, information on all existing interdepartmental economic commissions and briefly on the results of their work.

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# SKETCH OF PROPOSALS
1 November 1920

1) Commission the same troika (Avanesov + Larin + Popov) to study more precisely the composition, character of work, etc. of all commissions, classify them, draw conclusions regarding the necessary coordination and simplification, and present a report to us on Saturday, 6 November.

2) Commission (1) the Central Production Commission
(2) GOELRO
(3) the Commission for Utilization
(4) and the People's Commissariat of Land
to prepare a report to our commission on the character and results of their work **from the point of view of the general economic plan** of the entire RSFSR and at the **next meeting (6 November)** to provide information on:

(a) in what period the report can be ready
(b) what are the main themes (or what is the main content) of their report from the point of view of the general economic plan of the RSFSR (if possible, provide written theses of the report).

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# NOTES ON GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSIONS
1 December 1920

About 90. 90 (circa) — 45 (yes) = 45 (yes) commissions.

1. Main Fuel [Commission]—Council of Labor and Defense
2. Construction Production—Council of Labor and Defense
3. Processing Industry—Supreme Council of the National Economy
4. Military Industry—Supreme Council of the National Economy + Military Department
5. Basic Transportation Commission + Supreme Council of Transportation—People's Commissariat of Railways
6. Agriculture—People's Commissariat of Land
7. Staffing Commission—People's Commissariat of Labor
8. Commission on Material Resources—Council of Labor and Defense
9. Commission on Foreign Trade—People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade
10. Cottage Industry—Supreme Council of the National Economy

General Planning

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# FROM A TELEPHONOGRAM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE AND THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
27 October 1920

I request that you organize... a conference on the question of the state and measures for development of gold industry in Siberia.

I request that you present the conclusions of the conference to me for directing to the Council of People's Commissars or for resolution of the question by means of agreement between departments, etc.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

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# ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICAL MATERIALS
ON SOVIET EMPLOYEES

# MEMORANDUM TO P. I. POPOV
30 October 1920

1) Number of Soviet employees
2) By People's Commissariats
3) If possible—by departments
4) If possible—by main categories (specialists, service staff, clerks, etc.)
5) Other information (gender, etc.) depending on what information is in the questionnaire form.

I request that you divide the work into two parts:

1) The briefest information (number, etc.).
No more than 4 weeks.

2) Detailed information—how many weeks?

3) Most detailed—how many weeks?

V. Lenin

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# FROM A MEMORANDUM TO THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
1 November 1920

**Most urgent**

Comrade Gorky informs me of the following:

"Allow me to remind you that by transferring certain institutions from Moscow to Petrograd, you would free up many apartments here; Moscow's housing crisis is taking on a tragic character with the onset of cold weather."

I request that you urgently consider this question...

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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# LETTER TO R. E. KLASSOHN
2 November 1920

Comrade Klassohn!

I fear that you—forgive my frankness—will not be able to make use of the Council of People's Commissars' decree on Hydropeat. I fear this because you, it seems, have spent too much time on "senseless dreams" about the restoration of capitalism and have not given sufficient attention to the extremely peculiar peculiarities of the transitional period from capitalism to socialism. But I say this not for the purpose of reproach and not solely because I recalled the theoretical disputes of 1894—1895 with you, but for an extremely practical purpose.

In order to use the Council of People's Commissars' decree properly, it is necessary:

1) mercilessly and strictly to lodge complaints in time of its violation, monitoring execution most carefully, and of course selecting for complaint only cases that fit the rule "rarely but well-aimed."

2) From time to time—again following the same rule—to write to me (NB in an envelope: **Personally from such-and-such person on such-and-such matter**):

I request that you send a reminder or inquiry
[draft text on a separate sheet]
to such-and-such a person or institution on such-and-such a question,
in view of recognizing the work of "Hydropeat" as of state importance.

If you do not let me down, that is, if the reminders and inquiries are strictly business-like (without interdepartmental wrangling or polemic), then in 2 minutes I will be signing such reminders and inquiries and they will sometimes bring practical benefit.

With wishes for swift and great success to your invention and with greetings

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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# ADDITIONS TO THE DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
ON A UNIFIED TRACTOR FARM

2 November 1920

§ 8. Oblige the People's Commissariat of Land once a month, beginning 1 December, to provide to the Council of People's Commissars in brief written form information on:
the number of serviceable tractors;
unserviceable ones, but allowing repair;
repaired ones;
produced in the Russian SFSR;
ordered abroad and brought from abroad;
trainees and those completing tractor mechanic courses.

---

# ON THE INTRODUCTION OF A BASIC NORM OF WORKER SUPPLY

# [SKETCH OF QUESTIONS ON THE DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
2 November 1920

Previous quantity of food products?

1) Or less? Or more? And by how much?

2) Reduction of 18 norms to 5?

3) Reduction actually received by means of establishing a different order?

Which categories? How many workers in each category? By how much less?

4) Railroad workers?

---

# DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
6 November 1920

Recognizing the policy of the People's Commissariat of Food Supplies as entirely correct, consisting of reducing the quantity of supply norms, commission the Food Commissariat to submit a decree on the reduction of the quantity of bread ration norms with a precise list of these norms.

---

# LETTER TO THE COMMISSION
ON WORKER SUPPLY

12 November 1920

Is it not possible on the question of the quantity of worker supply norms to establish the following order:

1) establish by number the minimum quantity of norms, for example:
norm No. 1 standard minimum
» No. 2 somewhat higher, such-and-such amount
» No. 3
and so forth to No. 10 the highest norm, if it is possible to limit the entire number of norms to 10 norms.

2) **Determine monthly** what number of consumers (workers or employees plus family members) receive **at each norm**.

If this could be accomplished, we would know exactly how many norms: this in the first place.

In the second place, we would easily shift separate groups from one norm to another.

In the third place, we would always know how much was **actually issued** and to how many workers.

Lenin

---

# LETTER TO S. P. SEREDA
6 November 1920

Comrade Sereda!

I consider the articles by Mikhelson that you sent me to be of **utmost importance**.

It is necessary:

1) immediately to give them (correcting the style, combining into 1 article, editing) to *Izvestia* and *Pravda*.

2) Supply them with **Your** concluding remarks: conclusions (practical conclusions).

3) Provide a brief extract to ROSTA for distribution throughout Russia.

4) You must include all of this without fail a) in your printed report for the Congress of Soviets on 20 December, b) in your oral report (essence and **practical conclusions**).

It is necessary to prepare all of this in advance and in **good time** to make the specialists do all the preparatory work for your report.

With communist greetings

Lenin

---

# MEMORANDUM TO THE LIBRARIAN
10 November 1920

Is it not possible to obtain for me (for reading only, for 1 week) the book: Golovacheva-Panaeva: "Reminiscences." St. Petersburg. 1890.

---

# TELEPHONOGRAM TO THE MANAGER OF THE TELEPHONE NETWORK
11 November 1920

I request that you repair the telephone to the sanatorium "Chayka" (they report that the reason for the damage is the destruction of one pole near a village with a name something like Ivankovo).

I request that you report to me on the repair.

Chairman of the Council of Defense

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

# MEMORANDUM TO M. I. KALININ
12 November 1920

Comrade Kalinin! I am sending you the draft decrees on Siberian concessions that passed through the commission (these drafts will go for approval by the Council of People's Commissars, probably next week). The question of **food supply concessions** is still insufficiently elaborated here.

Press on this question, in accordance with what we discussed today.

Lenin

---

# ON THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE VILLAGE OF KASHINO

# ANNOTATIONS ON A LETTER FROM THE PEASANTS OF KASHINO
12 November 1920

To Citizen Lenin

Esteemed Comrade,

The Board of the association hereby informs you that on 14 of this November there will be an opening of electric lighting in the settlement of Kashino, to which we most humbly request that you come, to share in the joy that we feel at the sight of electric lighting in peasant huts, something that in the time of the tsars the peasants did not dare think of. Your presence is very desirable.

Program of the celebration:

1) Reception of guests from 7 o'clock in the morning in the house of brothers Z. and K. Pashkin.

2) At 4 o'clock a meeting with an orchestra of musicians and singing of the "Internationale."

3) At 6 o'clock in the evening dinner.

4) At 8 o'clock in the evening a ballet of village youth with the participation of a string orchestra.

Chairman of the Board D. Rodionov

Members of the Committee for the Arrangement of the Celebration

S. Kurkov

O. Korobkov

---

# MEMORANDUM TO THE ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE MOSCOW ECONOMIC COUNCIL
20 November 1920

Based on the report of a representative from the area (Comrade Kurkov from the village of Kashino), the dynamo machine could be manufactured at the "Dynamo" plant (at Simonov Monastery, near Moscow, beyond the Spasskaya Gate) (1 verst from Moscow).

---

# ON ELECTRIC PLOWS

# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF LAND
15 November 1920

Comrade Sereda

For three major centers of Ivanovo-Voznesensk province lacking electrification:
— Ivanovo-Voznesensk
— Shuya
— Kineshma

the workers request electric plows. I request that you obtain a report and inform me whether it is possible to fulfill [this request] and what conditions are required for this.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

---

# TO THE SMALL COUNCIL

No later than 23 November 1920

I request that you resolve the question of ordering electric plowing implements (People's Commissariat of Land) by Saturday (so that on Saturday in the Large Council of People's Commissars). Urgent!

Lenin

---

# ANNOTATIONS AND NOTES ON A LETTER FROM THE ELECTRICAL TRUST
28 November 1920

Comrade Sereda! **Return** me both documents please, after review, and inform me: (1) is it correct, entirely accurate as reproduced, your order? (2) is 1 April 1921 not too late? (3) is there information on the progress of work on the order?

Lenin

---

[Text of the Electrical Trust's letter with specifications for equipment...]

---

# ANNOTATIONS ON A REPORT FROM THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF LAND
30 November 1920

**Return** me both documents.

Having considered the report from the section "Elektrosila," the Department of Electrification of Agriculture hereby confirms the correctness of the data in the report No. 470 of 25 November.

The discrepancy in the number of motors (48 and 40 units) is explained by the fact that eight motors are being ordered as a spare in case of damage to the main ones. For these eight motors the shortest deadline has not been determined; they will be built "as soon as possible." In the rest, all data correspond to the actual order.

On the Petrograd plants and partly on the Moscow ones the execution of the order is already underway, despite the fact that workers and employees are not receiving the promised basic and premium rations.

The entire matter is being conducted and advanced by the trust and authority of a number of active workers, a situation which is abnormal and which must be regulated by urgent approval of the entire arrangement concerning the order and especially the provision of rations for workers and employees. Who should approve this? The Council of People's Commissars? Why is the People's Commissariat of Land not **submitting**: (1) on the order and (2) on the rations? I request an opinion.

Lenin

---

# MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS AND THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE
28 December 1920

I found today on my desk the enclosed paper.

I do not know from whom.

I am very interested in this matter. I feel completely sick from insomnia and therefore request you to watch over this matter, check on its execution, write (if necessary) additionally in my name.

Please speak with the corresponding member of the presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, show him this letter, discuss what measures of assistance are possible [and] necessary (perhaps gather the Petrograd delegates of the 8th Congress while they are here and speak with them: you must do this;—there may be other measures for clarifying what is missing and finding means to help) and try to help in every way.

With communist greetings

Lenin

---

# MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE
COPY TO COMRADE KURSKY

15 November 1920

Gorky reminds me about the publication of a decree concerning the confiscation of the property of émigrés.

I believe this was already agreed upon.

Why has it stalled?

Please find out, hurry things along, and tell me at the Council of People's Commissars on 16 November.

With communist greetings

Lenin

---

# TELEPHONOGRAM TO THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF POSTS AND TELEGRAPH, LYUBOVICH
17 November 1920

I am extremely surprised and outraged that, contrary to our conversation on the telephone yesterday, you have not submitted to the Council of Labor and Defense on 17 November the question of the Nizhny Novgorod radio station.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

Lenin

---

# ON THE ELECTRIFICATION OF YAROPOLSKY VOLOST OF VOLOKOLAMSK UEZD

# ORDER TO THE SECRETARY
20 November 1920

Preserve **confidentially** and remind me when I have Kirillin from Yaropolets (Volokolamsk uezd).

---

# NOTES

Request a report from the Supreme Council of the National Economy on the electrification of Yaropolsky Volost (or Yaropol District) of Volokolamsk Uezd of Moscow Province.

The main thing—copper.

Engineer Ringo, head of the Electrical Department of Moscow Province, stands for the launching of local electrical equipment factories (Vishnyakov and Shamshin, for example, in Moscow), raw materials meanwhile exist, among other places, on the Rayovo depot shelf (art depot, Moscow Province, 9 versts from Moscow: millions of puds of copper, collected during the war from various places, especially from Poland). (Investigate about Ringo)

(1) help electrification
(2) public education
(3) flax cultivation.

# LENIN COLLECTION

## ON HIGHER ARTISTIC EDUCATION


**November 20, 1920**

To the Small Soviet

In my view, it is necessary to supplement [the regulations] with an article (or note): the rules indicated in § 4 must be worked out within a period of such-and-such (brief) [time] and reported to the Small Council of People's Commissars*.

N B :
N B :
must be included (!) Political literacy
in the curriculum. What (2) and communist propaganda
control.

Lenin

1346 G

## REMARKS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS*

**December 18, 1920**

... 3. Onto the preparatory course at the Workshops, in the first instance, workers are admitted, and no special preparation for admission to this course is required of them.

**Note:** At the preparatory course, instruction in political literacy and the foundations of communist worldview is obligatory on all courses.

read: on all courses { note to § 3).

Lenin

* The following paragraph of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars "On the Moscow Higher State Artistic-Technical Workshops," adopted December 18, 1920, is being referred to:

"Admitted students are considered to be fulfilling an educational obligation under control of classes on the basis of special rules, which are to be established by the Chief Committee of Labor jointly with the People's Commissariat of Education within a two-week period and submitted for approval to the Council of People's Commissars" (protocol No. 406, point 6).

## 1920

2104

## FROM CONVERSATIONS BY DIRECT WIRE
BETWEEN V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN*

No later than November 20, 1920

Without convening the Politburo, I cannot give any answer. I advise you either to submit a concrete proposal immediately and at once raise it in the Politburo, or act yourself on the precise basis of the powers Stalin possesses, or finally accelerate your arrival in Moscow to resolve the whole Caucasian question as a whole. In any case, it is necessary to strengthen and accelerate the approach of reinforcements and inform me what exactly your decision is.

Lenin

To Lenin. Reply to note. I am leaving for Moscow tonight. I am giving Ordzhonikidze the order to carry out preparatory work and await instructions from Moscow. I will confer with the front about accelerating the transfer.

Stalin

Printed from typewritten copy.

10427

## EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH I. V. STALIN

**November 1920**

### NOTE FROM I. V. STALIN

Comrade Lenin!

When will it be possible for me to speak with you about my work in the center (I need about 20 minutes)?

Stalin

* I. V. Stalin reported to V. I. Lenin from Baku about information he had received from G. K. Ordzhonikidze regarding a threat to Soviet Azerbaijan from Menshevik Georgia, which was actually in the hands of foreign imperialists. In reporting on practical measures proposed by Comrade Ordzhonikidze, I. V. Stalin asked V. I. Lenin to give the necessary instructions on this question.

The first part of the document represents V. I. Lenin's reply to I. V. Stalin's request. The second part is I. V. Stalin's reply.

## LENIN COLLECTION

### V. I. LENIN'S REPLY

1) Either today (unlikely: already tired)
2) tomorrow, if there is a session, or will you come?
3) on Saturday?

### NOTE FROM I. V. STALIN

It makes no difference to me when; take into account your own convenience and only your own (I can come if you say and when you say).

2546

## DIRECTIVE TO THE STATE PUBLISHING HOUSE*

**November 26, 1920**

I request that you absolutely publish [this] by the deadline and inform me immediately.

Lenin

588.1

## ON CINEMA-CHRONICLE THEMES

**November 26, 1920**

Ci ne-pho to

1) Maternity homes and child protection.
2) Palaces converted into children's homes.
3) The Wrangel Front.

13433

## DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON DIRECT TAXES**

**November 30, 1920**

§ 1. 1) Instruct the commission to additionally consider, within 1 week, the question,

first, of the possibility of abolishing local monetary taxes and collect precise data both for Petrograd and Moscow gubernias and, if possible, for other gubernias;

* The Deputy People's Commissar for Nationalities appealed to V. I. Lenin requesting him to influence the State Publishing House, which was delaying the publication of a collection of decrees of Soviet power on the national question, prepared on V. I. Lenin's instructions, for the forthcoming December 15 conference of national workers of the RSFSR.

** The draft written by V. I. Lenin was adopted by the Council of People's Commissars on November 30, 1920.

second, on the necessity to prepare and conduct simultaneously both the abolition of monetary taxes and the transformation of the surplus appropriations into a natural tax;

§ 2. 2) Instruct the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs to appeal to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee with a request to demand from all local executive committees information and materials for the Congress of Soviets on all the questions raised in § 1.

§ 3. 3) Instruct the People's Commissariat of Finance to submit to the Council of People's Commissars a draft decree of the Council on the questions indicated in § 1, depending on the commission's decision.

## ON THE REORGANIZATION OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF EDUCATION

10458

## DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

**November 1920**

Postpone the reorganization of the People's Commissariat of Education as a whole, subjecting the question to more careful discussion.

Immediately, however, carry out the following measure:

1) Create the post of Deputy People's Commissar, entrusting him with complete direction of all administrative work and subordinating to him in this respect all sectors and departments of the Commissariat;

2) Appoint Comrade Litkens to this post, introducing him into the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Education and entrusting him not to abandon work in the Chief Administration of Political Education, but to devote to it necessarily not less than half of his working hours, and immediately oblige the Chief Administration of Political Education to find and introduce a deputy for Litkens in the Chief Administration of Political Education.

3) Entrust Comrade Litkens with preparing a draft precise instruction concerning the functions and rights of the Deputy People's Commissar.

5890

## LETTER TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY

**November 29, 1920**

Comrade Lunacharsky! We had a detailed conversation yesterday with Comrade Litkens. In my view, both his and Solovyev's projects are artificial. The decision will be made, of course, by the Central Committee. My preliminary considerations are as follows:

1) Create the post of Deputy People's Commissar, transferring to him all administration.

2) Transform the "Organizational Sector" into an "Organizational Center" (with a head—a member of the collegium). This center directs the administrative, organizational, supply, and similar aspects of all sectors.

3) Abolish the Chief Administration of Vocational Education, merging it with the second-level school, provided that (a) [we] increase general-education and political subjects in second-level schools and (ß) ensure, as far as possible, the transition from vocational-technical education to polytechnical education.

4) Revive and put in order the "Gus" (State Academic Council) as a body for discussing all scientific-pedagogical questions. (Composition = all members of the collegium + the best specialists, even if bourgeois).

5) Create sectors as follows: (1) preschool, (2) first-level school, (3) second-level school (=Chief Administration of Vocational Education), (4) extracurricular (=Chief Administration of Political Education), (5) higher school, (6) artistic.

6) Leave the artistic sector as a unified sector, placing "political commissars" from communists in all central and leading institutions of this sector.

Lenin

## NOTES ON THE LIBRARIAN'S MEMORANDA

**November 1920**

5928

Vladimir Ilyich!

Please be so kind as to write to me about the following:

1) What should be done with newspapers from Tiflis?

Yes.

2) Do you need books published in Tiflis (I am enclosing a list)?

3) One comrade brought a complete set of the guard journal "L'Europe nouvelle*. Please. Paris*. If it interests you, it can be obtained.

Librarian Sh. Manucharyants

Φ To the editorial office of "Pravda" for transmission to the People's Commissariat of Education, department of white literature.

* "New Europe." Paris.

23822

L. A. Ishkov. The Labor Movement and State Development in England in the Second Half of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Documents and materials on the foreign policy of Transcaucasia and Georgia.

N. N. Zhordania. For 2 Years (from March 1, 1917 to March 1, 1919). Reports and Speeches.

Arslan Prizhinents. Essays on Russian Policy on the Borderlands. From the History of Armenian-Georgian Relations in 1918.

Karibi. Red Book of 1920. Armenian Revolutionary Figures in Turkish Armenia and Ours.

I request all [of these].

## ON THE ORGANIZATION OF SANITARY-TRANSIT STATIONS AT MOSCOW RAILWAY STATIONS

### MEMORANDA TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

44838

**Autumn 1920**

Have you received Semashko's order?

I very much request that you exert every effort and report to me weekly on the actual results of what has been done*.

* The People's Commissariat of Health entrusted V. D. Bonch-Bruevich with organizing a Committee for the construction of sanitary-transit stations at Moscow railway stations to receive echelons of demobilized Red Army units.

In response to this note, V. D. Bonch-Bruevich reported to V. I. Lenin: "1) On Friday a commission meets at the People's Commissariat of Health (organizational). 2) The technical apparatus (the main part) has been selected. 3) Some materials have been found. 4) A project for the structures has been worked out; it will be approved on Friday. 5) Work will begin on Saturday."


## LENIN COLLECTION

**January 5, 1921**

6111

Find out under whose jurisdiction these stations fall? The Moscow Soviet department? which People's Commissariat?

and verify by formal inquiry both from the Moscow Soviet department and from the corresponding People's Commissariat*.

Lenin

44839

Dear Vladimir Ilyich, Nadezhda Konstantinovna told me that she will not go tomorrow. I request your instructions regarding when exactly you wish to go. If possible, it would be better around 11 o'clock. I wanted to go—Dzerzhinsky, Semashko. I will tell them**. — Vlad. Bonch-Bruevich

## ON THE REORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE

## SKETCHES OF A RESOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION

**December 1, 1920**

5733

The Council of People's Commissars petitions [the] All-Russian Central Executive Committee to establish:

1. The Council of Labor and Defense is supplemented by the People's Commissar of Agriculture.

2. The Council of Labor and Defense is entrusted with discussing the division of its sessions into regular and economic.

5732

§ 3. Th e Li m i ts  o f  J u r i s d i c t i o n :

(1) the unification of all work of the economic People's Commissariats;
(2) the approval and implementation of a unified economic plan of the RSFSR;

* The directive was written by V. I. Lenin on a letter from V. D. Bonch-Bruevich, in which he reported that Moskovotorg [Moscow Trade Trust] was not releasing firewood for the sanitary-transit stations at Moscow railway stations, prepared to receive echelons of demobilized Red Army units.

** The matter concerned a tour for the inspection of Moscow sanitary-transit stations by V. I. Lenin, F. E. Dzerzhinsky, and N. A. Semashko.

(3) to direct the work of the economic People's Commissariats in accordance with this plan and to establish, if necessary, exceptions to it;

4 (new);

+ Do not create your own apparatus.

13447

## RESOLUTION ON THE DRAFT STATUTE OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE

**December 11, 1920**

To the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets

Approved at the Council of People's Commissars December 11, 1920*.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

## DRAFT*

At a moment of mounting tension in the Soviet Republic's struggle against world imperialism, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee formed, on November 30, 1918, the Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense.

Fulfilling the task assigned to it, the Council of Defense unified the work of the military and other departments in the mobilization of the country's forces and means in the interests of defense.

The military situation in April 1920 made it possible for the Soviet Republic to begin economic construction, and the Council of Defense was assigned the task of the closest unification of work on the labor front and, in accordance with this, the Council of Defense was transformed into the Council of Labor and Defense. At the present time the tasks of economic construction stand before the Soviet Republic in their full scope, and at the same time there arises the need for more precise formulation and consolidation of the organizational experience achieved by the Council of Labor and Defense and the establishment of the relationship between the Council of Labor and Defense and the central organs of Soviet power, wherefore the All-Russian Central Executive Committee decrees, in amendment and supplement to the decree of November 30, 1918 (Collection of Laws No. 91), to approve the following statute on the Council of Labor and Defense.

1. The Council of Labor and Defense acts in the capacity of a commission of the Council of People's Commissars.

2. The composition of the Council of Labor and Defense includes: in the capacity of its chairman—the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and in the capacity of its members the People's Commissars: for Military Affairs, of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, of Labor, of Transport, of Agriculture, of Food Supply, and of Workers' and Peasants' Inspection, and one representative of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions. The manager of the Central Statistical Administration participates with a consultative voice.

**Note**: Deputies are appointed by the Council of People's Commissars.

3. To the Council of Labor and Defense belongs the management of the affairs of the RSFSR in that part which concerns the defense of the Republic and the unification of the work of the economic People's Commissariats.

4. In fulfillment of the task assigned to it, the Council of Labor and Defense issues decrees, directives, instructions, and takes all measures necessary for its proper and swift execution, in particular, establishes the unified economic plan of the RSFSR, submits it for approval to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, directs the work of the economic People's Commissariats in accordance with this plan, supervises its implementation, and establishes, if necessary, exceptions to this plan.

5. For all departments and institutions, central and local, and for all citizens, the decrees of the Council of Labor and Defense are unconditionally binding.

6. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets and the Council of People's Commissars have the right to repeal or suspend any decree or decision of the Council of Labor and Defense either at the protest of individual People's Commissars or at their own discretion.

## ON THE PLAN FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF RUSSIA

## NOTES ON ENGINEER KOZMIN'S LETTER

0115

**December 2, 1920**

Respected Comrade Vladimir Ilyich,

I have familiarized myself with the minimum program of the "epoch of great works" on electrification and consider myself obligated to send you this note... In Goelro [State Commission for the Electrification of Russia], not all of our largest scientific and technical forces were utilized. One of the most serious errors is that the question of the lighting of villages by windmill power was not even raised. And yet the real possibilities for solving this question exist (tech­nical and economic).

Request particulars from Kozmin about a and ß.

Lenin

Is that so? Check.

The largest specialist in electrical technology, Professor Artemyev (Nikolai Andreyevich), did not take part in the work of Goelro—a great practitioner and theoretician, perhaps the only one in Russia. Germany (Europe generally) and America know him. He is a revolutionary in technique, and I know him as a colleague from the Kiev Polytechnic. Recently we have been discussing with him the question of the accumulation of solar heat. Science does not consider this madness...

He invented the thermos, with the aid of which one can reduce the fuel consumption for the kitchen by half, ß having discovered a new principle of cooking... Call him in and speak with him. He has colossal energy for work... At present he is at Petrovsky-Razumovsky at the Agricultural Academy as a professor of electrical technology—a small matter for him...

Incorrect. He is connected with Krzhizhanovsky.

6065

## NOTES IN THE BOOK "PLAN FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF RUSSIA"*

**December 1920**

The probable average annual export abroad during the decade can be evaluated at approximately 1.8 billion rubles, of which approximately 1.0 billion rubles will be covered by foodstuffs, approximately 0.3 billion rubles by timber, approximately 0.25 billion rubles by petroleum products, approximately 0.1 billion rubles by textile materials, and approximately 0.1 billion rubles by ore, coke, and coke products. The main base for obtaining foreign exchange will, consequently, be the export of foodstuffs, timber, and petroleum products.

The probable average annual import required for current needs during this time will amount to approximately 0.6–0.8 billion rubles, of which approximately 0.3 billion rubles for textile raw materials and semifinished products, approximately 0.1 billion rubles for ferrous metal and metal goods, and approximately 0.2 billion rubles for food, chemical, and paper goods. Consequently, the free balance over 10 years will constitute approximately 1.0 billion rubles.

Finally, the necessary one-time expenditures for the planned expansion of industry and transport, by a very rough estimate, appear over 10 years to be as follows:

* See "Plan for the Electrification of the RSFSR. Introduction to the report to the Eighth Congress of Soviets of the State Commission for the Electrification of Russia." Gosteknizdot, 1920.

Electrification (1,500 kW) approx. . . 1.2 billion rubles
Expansion of processing industry by 80% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 " "

Expansion of extractive industry by 80–100% . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 " "

Restoration, improvement, and expansion of transport . . . . . 8.0 " "

approx. 17 billion rubles

This very rough accounting, however, leads to a completely definite conclusion that electrification expenditures are trifling compared with the others, constituting only approx. 7% of the extreme minimum of one-time expenditures. The second conclusion is that foreign exchange possibilities set us rather narrow limits for the expansion of the national economy, and the realization of even the planned development of the latter creates a deficit of approx. 6 billion rubles over the 10-year period. This deficit, however, can be covered by means of concessions and credit operations,

Some hopes also exist for the expansion of the export of agricultural products beyond the planned 1,000 million rubles per year.

Thus, the planned program appears realizable, and the calculation of real possibilities from the standpoint of fuel, metal, and foreign exchange leads to virtually the same figure for the possible increase in industry and transport of approx. 80%; which is why this figure was placed as the basis of the program...

Data on the main materials and structures for electrification of the first stage

For the construction of 20 steam and 10 hydroelectric regional stations, approximately the following will be required:

Cement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000,000 barrels
Brick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150,000,000 pieces
Sorted iron (including masts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000,000 poods
Copper (not counting electrical machines and devices) . . 2,500,000 poods
Insulators of various kinds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000,000 pieces
Turbogenerators with capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,110,000 kW
Hydraulic turbines and generators with capacity . . . . . 640,000 kW
Steam boilers with superheaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450,000 sq. meters
Buildings for steam stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470,000 cu. sazhens
Buildings in settlements for steam stations . . . . . . . . 900,000 cu. sazhens
Buildings for transformer substations . . . . . . . . . . . 100,000 cu. sazhens
Service settlements at transformer substations . . . . . . 90,000 cu. sazhens
Workers approximately . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370 million work days

6066

## NOTES ON ELECTRIFICATION

On electrification

1) Decree on the approval of the plan...
2) Mobilization of technical forces.
Gathering of forces both electrical-technical and labor forces.
[Use of stations.]
[Agitation and propaganda.]
Teaching of theoretical and practical knowledge about electricity.
3) Decree on Goelro.
4) Decree on the Scientific-Technical Division...
5) Decree on the All-Russian Electrical-Technical Congress.
6) Petrograd. Coal from abroad via Murmansk.

## LENIN COLLECTION

13441

## ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DRAFT DECREE ON MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN AND DEVELOP PEASANT FARMING

### INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSION MEMBERS*

**December 4, 1920**

1) Increase the number of representatives from peasant committees of assistance...

2) As a basis for determining the participation of peasant committees of assistance, take the formulation of § 6 from the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

3) Restrict the rights of sowing commissions to issue obligatory decrees, making such issuance conditional on preliminary discussion of the proposed measures at meetings of peasant committees of assistance at both the district and gubernial scale and at the regional level.

4) Strike out the section on the selection of seeds, placing as the task of local organs the development of a form of protection of seed funds.

5) Strike out section VII—on penalties...

6) Transfer the greater part of the draft to an instruction.

* The Council of People's Commissars adopted these positions of V. I. Lenin as the basis for developing the bill, subsequently submitted to the Eighth All-Russian Congress of Soviets. The commission developing the bill was also instructed to "compile a brief announcement by radio to the effect that the Council of People's Commissars is developing a project on such-and-such bases. Include in this announcement a proposal to the gubernial agricultural and gubernial food conference committees to collect precise and, if possible, detailed materials for the development of a plan of preparatory measures for the implementation of the seed tax and the obligatory sowing of fields.

The draft announcement by radio, signed by Comrades Sereda and Tsyurupa, should be submitted for V. Lenin's signature no later than Tuesday, December 1 of the current year.

Begin the broadest campaign of propaganda and agitation, in particular by means of popular brochures, which must be printed by December 20 of the current year.

Instruct the same commission to agree with the Military Department to utilize the forthcoming demobilization and the political apparatus of the Military Department for propaganda in the countryside of the basic ideas of the project" (protocol No. 403, point 13).

The bill was published in "Pravda" on December 14, 1920.

23305

## NOTE ON THE SECRETARY'S MEMORANDUM

**December 11, 1920**

Maria Fyodorovna called from Petrograd Call V. D.
and asked that it be conveyed to Vladimir Ilyich Bonch-Bruevich
that Maxim Gorky left for Moscow today —
at 1:30 p.m., will arrive in Moscow tomorrow, December 12, I request
approximately at 1 p.m. Request to have a car sent you and write down
to meet him at the station. his reply.

5998

## MEMORANDUM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PRESS AND KKI*

**December 17, 1920**

I have no objection. Publish. Send me immediately 1 copy.

Lenin

33678

## FROM A MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

**December 21, 1920**

I request that this map** be hung both here and in the premises of the Small Soviet

and distributed (the remaining copies) to workers' clubs in Moscow...

Would it be possible to draw on this same map at least with green lines and green hatching the present-day borders: (a) Western "Front" (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania).

(ß) Crimea

(Y) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia

(8) Central Asia, Bukhara

(в) Far Eastern Republic

(C) borders of the Far East all at present

Lenin

* The Press Department of the Executive Committee of the Comintern asked the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars whether V. I. Lenin's speech at the Moscow Gubernial Conference of the RCP(b), already published in French, could be published in the same way in German and English.

In Russian, V. I. Lenin's speech was published as a separate pamphlet by the Moscow Committee of the RCP(b) in 1920 (Works, vol. XXV, pp. 481–496).

** The matter concerns a territorial map of the RSFSR.

## LENIN COLLECTION

SO 59

## MEMORANDUM TO MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

**December 1920**

For the information of Central Committee members and People's Commissars

The following notes on the discussions and statements at the non-party conference of peasants* are compiled by Lenin, who requests that you familiarize yourselves with them.

At the non-party meeting:

From Belarus (Minsk gubernia).

Salt, iron, and everything to sow all the land. It is necessary to give. I will say no more.

From Ukraine.

The norms are small (both for fodder and for people). And we will not leave any unsown...

From Tver.

This year it is not appropriate. There are no clover seeds. The peasant sees nothing from collective farms.

From Ivanovo-Voznesensk gubernia.

? In the apportionment it is equally assessed both the lazy and the industrious, which is extremely unjust.

Blacksmiths should repair at fixed prices (and carpenters too). Otherwise blacksmiths and carpenters take 4,000 rubles and 5 founds, they take excessively.

From Ekaterinoslav gubernia.

More close to life and to the heart of poor peasants...

Bread, iron, coal—that is what we need. Equipment is needed.

From Kursk gubernia.

It is necessary that the poorest learn from the conscientious... ...only one can say beautifully that 120,000 were put through courses...

The conscientious must be supported...

From the Donbas.

We request 35,000 [poods of] seeds. And people only carry briefcases, and did nothing. [If you] cannot—give [us] permission to obtain [them]...

? From Cherepovets gubernia.

It happens that [they] call [one] a loafer. And there is actually no plow or harrow. One cannot blame the poor peasant and demand much from him. Note in the law that it is necessary to support the poor peasant. Compulsion is absolutely necessary.

(Cries: enough. NB).

From Tula gubernia.

There are no kulaks now (cries: there still are). So as not to be a shameful kulak, it is better not to work at all. The laborer could earn; the lazy man could not.

Today I spread manure, and tomorrow for whom?

From Ignim district.

The sowing will be sown, but on 18 poods of oats one will not sow. It is necessary to increase the norm for livestock. Osinsky is not acquainted with Siberia: I have been plowing for 38 years, and Osinsky does not know.

From Novgorod gubernia.

Raise equipment. Repair [it]. Livestock is taken excessively. Milling fees are taken. [They] take [payment] for a deserter. Unbearable fees should be reduced.

From Penza gubernia.

Propaganda is needed. Propaganda alone can carry it through. We will not count [one] as a loafer if war has ruined [his] household.

A commission—brother will protect [us]. A higher commission is needed.

From Kostroma gubernia.

It is necessary to interest the peasant. Otherwise it will not work. I saw firewood under the stick. But one cannot conduct agriculture under the stick.

Give preference to the laborer, not to one who goes mushroom-picking.

From Novgorod gubernia.

In spring they waste time on land redistribution. Eliminate frequent redistributions.

Take seed material into account necessarily. Give [it] to the poor.

We have been equalizing for three years.

How to interest [peasants]? Simply: a percentage apportionment of grain, as with livestock...

Spur on the loafer... 10 poods for seeds—sow and give what is required.

From former Kazan gubernia, Tsarevokokshaisk district.

Forests. Little land. Rye for seeds was not sufficient. The apportionment is heavy. Press for us for a norm, otherwise we will eat the last spring seeds.

From Ryazan gubernia (from the VII Army).

The war is ending; [they] await an equal redistribution.

There will be abuses with seeds from the common granary. It enrages me when [they] speak of peasants as scoundrels. My father has 35 desyatinas. I have not seen loafers. The poor suffer. Kulakism (as well as desertion) exists (thunderous applause).

From Vyatka gubernia.

Redistributions of land are harmful. No more frequently than every 6 years.—Regarding livestock... preserve [it]...

From Petrograd gubernia.

Do not fundamentally break the system of land use. Apportionment: we had such pressure that revolvers were put to our heads. The people are enraged...

Labor obligation... If [one] enters into the situation, [they] will be obedient.

There is no footwear, no tools, and [they] drive [one] by force. [They] do not help those who have burned out.

Children did not receive what was assigned for the October celebrations.

From Demyansky district of Novgorod gubernia.

Kulaks exist. Grain was buried. I myself dug holes, took grain. I support the protection of the poor...* Kulaks were eliminated. We will not let [them] hide [wealth] rich.

From Perm gubernia.

It is necessary to free [agriculture] from under the stick in order to raise it. Stick=food requisitions.

In the committees of assistance, practical people should participate. Let there be a stick, but for our assistance.

So that the industrious presses down on the undiligent.

From Samara gubernia.

Give old iron for repair. Otherwise we cannot manage. Premiums for good cultivation.

Arrange exhibitions. Rental points.

From Chernigov gubernia.

There are no loafers; the poor work. [Let] everything be sown.

From the Don region.

Gangs have plundered all the transport. Ruin. It is necessary to build state life.

From the Kirghiz Republic.

Grain was collected to the last stalk. Nothing remained. Stockbreeders need help. The economy is destroyed by war. Propaganda is needed.

From Tula gubernia.

The bill must be passed. [It is] useful. There is no fertilizer. There is little livestock. In 10 gubernias there are no seeds (central gubernias). Give seeds. Concessions for fertilizer.

From Kursk gubernia.

Add 100 horses and wheels. There is salt. There are no harrows. Kerosene is not needed.

From Tsaritsyn gubernia.

Was a producing gubernia. Now consuming. If only we could get seeds. [We] suffered from counterrevolution.

From Yenisei gubernia.

Settlers. Cold. [It] freezes. [We] are suffering. Move [us] to convenient places.


## LENIN COLLECTION XXXV

10441

## NOTE ON THE DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF TECHNICAL CONSULTATION ABROAD

**December 1920**

Distribute to all People's Commissars, confer with each, [ask if they] agree to designate [representatives] in the Council of People's Commissars and inform me.

1) For the purpose of assisting various production Commissariats, Chief Administrations, and Centers of the Supreme Council of the National Economy and other institutions of the Republic in the organization of various productions, their improvement, as well as the obtaining of necessary information of a scientific and technical character regarding the state of the corresponding branches of science, industry, and technology abroad, scientific-technical consultation bureaus of the RSFSR are established in foreign states.

2) The organization of the scientific-technical consultation bureaus of the RSFSR is entrusted to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade with the involvement in this work also of the Scientific-Technical Division of the Supreme Council of the National Economy.

3) For the financing of the scientific-technical consultation bureaus of the RSFSR being organized abroad, there are allocated to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade from the fund of real values up to one million gold rubles per year.

4) All People's Commissariats and the Supreme Council of the National Economy are obliged to submit to the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade within a 2-week period a statement on those questions regarding which they require constant periodic consultation of foreign specialists or on individual assignments in this area.

5) The People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade is obliged, at the first opportunity, to submit budget and staff proposals for the organization of scientific-technical consultation bureaus abroad.

## MEMORANDA TO A. D. TSYURUPA

26460

Please order all figures and dates regarding the potato campaign tomorrow—

surplus—apportionment (+ deadlines from the last campaign)

Moscow and Petrograd, etc.

for the Politburo.


26458

Tsyurupa

Vladimirov wants to go to Moscow to give a report.

Forbid him to do so until he arrives in Kharkov and until discussion with Stalin.

Otherwise [it will] aggravate!!

In the meantime, request figures, only figures (he talks a lot):

1) where and 2) how many poods?

ЗН 20

## NOTE ON THE PROOFS OF VOLUME IV OF THE FIRST EDITION OF HIS WORKS

There are many typos.

405 н

## NOTES ON A NEW EDITION OF KARL MARX'S BOOK "THE POVERTY OF PHILOSOPHY"

KARL MARX

THE POVERTY OF PHILOSOPHY

Reply to the "Philosophy of Poverty" of M. Proudhon

with a Preface and Notes

BY FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Translated by V. Zasulich

State Publishing House, Petrograd, 1920

Letter from Karl Marx

to Pavel Vasil. Annenkov

Brussels, December 28, 1846...

... You would never believe what

difficulties such a publication encounters in Germany both from the police and from publishers, who themselves are interested representatives of all those tendencies which I attack...

Your Karl Marx

Lenin's copy.

NB

There is a new letter from K. Marx to Annenkov, December 28, 1846.

Where was it taken from?

where is the original printed?

The provocative boldness of attacks on the "holy of holies" of political economy, full of wit paradoxes, mockery of habitual bourgeois conceptions, sharp judgments, malicious irony, glimmering here and there a deep and sincere feeling of indignation against the vileness of the existing order, revolutionary sincerity—all this electrified the readers of "What is Property?" and gave, at the book's first appearance, a strong impetus to society...

30 к

? selfishly?

NOTES ON A BROCHURE ON THE WORK OF THE MOSCOW SOVIET

? witty?

NB

BRIEF REVIEW

OF THE ACTIVITIES

OF THE MOSCOW

SOVIET

See Lenin, especially p. 10

A monstrosity.

It should be the opposite.

State Publishing House, 1920

## Activities of the Executive Committee of the Moscow Soviet

... At one session of the Executive Committee there are 35 present members and up to 10 discussed questions. The latter can be divided into 5 groups:

1) Political questions; there were — 1.
2) Economic questions — 8.
3) Organizational questions — 46.
4) Health questions — 1.
5) Miscellaneous questions — 11.

## Activities of the Presidium of the Moscow Soviet

The Presidium of the United Soviet held sessions from June 17 (first session) to October 1 a total of 75 times. At the sessions there were present 398 members of the presidium and 492 questions were discussed, so that at one session there were approximately 5 present and approximately 7 discussed questions.

The questions considered and discussed by the presidium can be divided into 12 groups:

1) Organizational questions: there were 115,
2) Economic questions: 
" 
" 
219.

## NOTES ON A "BRIEF REPORT"

Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic

Proletarians of all countries, unite!

PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT
OF EDUCATION

OCTOBER 1917–1920

(Brief Report)

State Publishing House, 1920

..."Union of Workers of Education and Socialist Culture," exceeding the old by nearly six times in number of members...

Higher professional-technical educational institutions 591.

Of these:

In Moscow . . . . . . . . . 11

In Petrograd . . . 14

In the provinces . . . . 18

On the Don . . . . . . . .

In the Caucasus . . . .

In Siberia . . . . . . . . .

In the Turkestan SR

In the Ukrainian SR

In the Tatar SR

While at the first mailing of blanks, timed for April 1920, the return of them within the first prescribed month yielded only isolated copies, at the second mailing, timed for October 1920, reports received within the first three weeks of the prescribed month were no fewer than 120 completed questionnaires.

* According to information as of September 1920.

58 к

OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF EDUCATION

Lenin's copy.

NB

p. S, p. 42 (September 1920), p. 107

NB

numbers?

1 only

September 1920

## LENIN COLLECTION

23101

## MEMORANDUM TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY

Comrade Lunacharsky! Be so kind as to issue [this] without fail! I will sign*.

Your Lenin

## MEMORANDUM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

8404

It is necessary to bring to trial (as an example) 1–2 persons for the spread of rumors**.

## MEMORANDA TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS AND SECRETARIES OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

**April 14, 1920**

To the Secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars and to the Management of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars

Immediately issue the order that in all premises of the Council of People's Commissars and the Council of Defense, as well as in all commissions appointed by them, there are always carafes of boiled water and several glasses.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

**May 28, 1920**

15691

Comrade secretary!

It is necessary to ensure that this does not occur (members of the Council of People's Commissars may)***. Supervise more strictly!

Lenin

* The note was written in connection with a petition from the commissioner of the Public Library in Leningrad requesting a "formal prohibition" from the People's Commissariat of Education to issue rare copies of pre-October revolutionary literature stored in the library to readers at home.

** The note was written by V. I. Lenin on a communication from the Deputy People's Commissar of Military Affairs about the fact that some railway workers and officials of the Military Communications Administration were divulging secret information.

*** The order was issued in connection with the presence at a session of the Council of Labor and Defense of representatives of departments not summoned to this session.

2 0 1

5248

**June 18, 1920**

Remind me of 2 papers given me by Gorky. By Wednesday.

Lenin

**July 1920**

10389

Move forward the reception schedule (10.30–1 o'clock), one to the end. Otherwise it does not work.

10325

**October 7, 1920**

Tsyurupa asks you to arrange for him a meeting tomorrow before the Council of Defense.

He will arrive at the Kremlin tomorrow around 11:30.

Will you call him or should he call you? Or should he call the booth?*

## MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

It is superfluous and absurd that, after reviewing papers, you write "for V. I.'s review" (!??) ((this is already clear)) or "I would think that so-and-so."

It is necessary to write in 3 lines the essence of the matter.

Otherwise what do you have to review for?

10198

Fotieva: make a copy (in secret) [to be kept in my archives], then sew up, seal, and get a receipt from the courier, having specially verified [it].

5361

Lidia Alexandrovna!

Distribute everything as soon as possible...

Speak immediately with Stalin on the telephone

and telephone me his reply.

Regards! Lenin

* Underlined by V. I. Lenin.

Where? at his [place] in the Kremlin? Earlier than 11:30 I cannot, at 11:30 to 12 I will try, if I do not oversleep.

33683

10282

You were not "crushed," but [people have been] too gentle with you.

1) Get a signed pledge from all secretaries that during Council of People's Commissars sessions only notes are to be submitted and conversation is forbidden.

2) Post the same announcement in the secretariat.

10398

Workers from the Moscow Committee will be calling at 9 o'clock. Arrange with them to come at 9:30.

10200

Please open the window in my office for half an hour.

23810

Publications of the Toussaint-Langenscheidt Company

(Germany)

Sachs-Villatte

1) Complete Dictionary of French-German Language

2) Same: German-French Muret-Sanders

3) English-German

By the same company

Pocket dictionaries

4) English-German

5) Italian-German

6) German-Russian

# 1921
YEAR


1 9 2 1

## MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

This is all from the village of Modenovo. Review [it] and help them. [They] request a reduction in the apportionment. Query the People's Commissariat of Food Supply and tell me.

Comrade, with whom I spoke: member of the labor committee

Pyotr Kozlov.

Village of Modenovo, Bogorodskaya volost of Vereiskii district, Moscow gubernia.

Apportionment fulfilled

hay 2000— 200
straw 200 — 200
spring straw 110-----
grain 244—43
Voluntarily given 540—19

oats 115— 115
cartridges completely completely
78p.—78p.

0106

**January 6, 1921**

[In] the apportionment requested:

hay and grain reduction (we fear detachments).

6107

## INSTRUCTION TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

**January 6, 1921**

It is necessary

1) to have [this] translated into German (good)*.

* V. I. Lenin speaks of a draft reply to the Swedish Red Cross on its letter with a request to permit Academician I. P. Pavlov to leave for Sweden for scientific work.

2) to verify (with Semashko and M. N. Pokrovsky or through them) whether it is possible to add

that Pavlov did not request to leave (is it true that he would not wish to leave?),

that he was given such-and-such privileges.

Given that my letter may be published, it is very desirable to add this.

Lenin

P.S. Return all these documents to me.

2310

## RESOLUTION ON A TELEGRAM FROM G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE

**January 8, 1921**

Assist in every way.

Forward this telegram to the Crimea, to the Crimean Revolutionary Committee for Ulyanov (Simferopol or at [his] location) with an addendum: I support Ordzhonikidze's request.

Lenin

Moscow, Kremlin To Lenin

Rostov, January 7, 1921. Comrade Markov's mother is in the Crimea.

For two and a half years there have been no reports from her; she is completely alone, sick, without any means. Request assistance in finding her and, if she is alive, in placing her in some sanatorium. Her address was: Alupka, villa Lutovinov, in the fruit orchard.

Ordzhonikidze

## ON CRIMEAN RESORTS

2312

## NOTE ON A TELEGRAM FROM THE HEAD OF THE RESORT ADMINISTRATION D. I. ULYANOV

**January 10, 1921**

Moscow, People's Commissariat of Health, Semashko—

Copy to Lenin

Request from Semashko I have received the decree of the Council of
a copy of his answer to me. of People's Commissars from December 24, which
—Lenin clarifies the matter and strengthens our position. I con-
sider it necessary that you, in development of this decree,
subordinate to me the local health department, because despite
even this decree they continue to regard the matter from the
height of their Crimean bell tower. This must be done immediately
in the most categorical form, otherwise at every step we will
encounter impermissible obstacles from local authorities, who
do not grasp the question in the scope that the interests of the
matter and a definite and clear instruction from the Center
require. Parallel to this, directives from the People's Commissariat
of Health are necessary to the local Crimean organs regarding
their unconditional subordination of their interests to the general
tasks of the Republic...

Ulyanov

2313

## TELEGRAM TO D. I. ULYANOV

**January 13, 1921**

Simferopol, Crimean Revolutionary Committee for Dmitry Ulyanov

I have received a copy of your telegram to Semashko and a copy of his reply to you*. I request that you report whether there is a noticeable improvement.

Lenin

## ON THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE VILLAGES OF SIYANOVO AND GORKI

23309

## MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

**January 12, 1921**

I very much request that you call immediately the Gubernial Council of the National Economy (Moscow), electrical department, and in every way accelerate this matter, bringing it to completion, to implementation. Inform me of any delay.

Lenin

* The following telegram is meant:

"Simferopol, Crimean Revolutionary Committee, copy to the Oblast Party Committee.

I request that you most strictly instruct the head of the health department to assist in every way the Resort Administration in preparing for reception, accommodating, and treating the arriving sick workers from Moscow and Petrograd. It is necessary to take the most urgent measures, since the sick will arrive January 20. It is necessary to ensure transportation, housing, food, and fuel according to the decree of the Council of People's Commissars. If the head of the health department does not understand these basic general state obligations to the working people of the Republic, I very much request that you appoint another.—People's Commissariat of Health, Semashko."

I enclose an engineer's calculation (from the Gorki soviet farm) regarding what is needed.

If this is not available in the Moscow Provincial Soviet of the National Economy (electrical department), then send them a copy.

It would be good to verify: is the request not excessive?

Lenin

6606

NOTE ON A MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS

16 April 1921

To Comrade Lenin

A Reminder

The Head of the Moscow electrical department [reported]

20 April and subsequently informed me that the interior wiring of electrical conductors in the village of Siyanov has been completed for the time being in 20 houses. The entire work on the electrification of the village of Siyanov and Gorki will be completed in approximately 3 weeks.

A minor interruption in work occurred due to lack of materials. At present the work on interior equipment is proceeding again; two electricians are working.

The head of the electrical department will go out to the site in the next few days to familiarize himself with the state of the work and by 20 April promises to present a detailed report.

6121

NOTES ON A REPORT MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS

12 January 1921

In my opinion, the manager of affairs should reply on behalf of the management.

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Comrade Lenin

...Correspondence with personal requests and statements addressed to Your name is opened in the office of the Council of People's Commissars, and replies are given not in Your name... I consider it necessary that all such letters be answered not in the name of the secretariat and not in the name of the Management of Affairs, but in Your name or by Your instruction...

For your information, I report that approximately 70 such papers arrive daily.

YEAR 1921

MEMORANDA TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

23317

18 January 1921

1) Regarding Your memorandum about the secretariat. We will discuss it at our meeting. For now do not begin.

2) I enclose a letter from Shklovskaya. Request: read it and get in touch with the Central Committee (secretaries) and the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, and execute her request as I ask. I know the family; they will not be able to survive in Russia now.

3) Regarding electric lighting in Gorki: I have also received a statement from the village of Siyanov (did you forward it to me?). Let whoever it concerns look at it, even though it is far away. Are you accelerating the entire matter?

4) Please find out, without taking any steps before our meeting, whether anywhere (in the Central Committee, ROSTA, People's Commissariats, etc.)
a) systematic clippings from newspapers are being made,
b) pasted clippings according to a system for reference purposes.

If it is being done, take a look and tell me.
If not, we will discuss how to organize this matter at our meeting.

Lenin

33688

25 January 1921

Today a decision was adopted that You monitor the implementation of the decisions of the Council of People's Commissars.

It is necessary to organize this matter properly: always maintain a folder or board of unexecuted or requiring constant oversight (for implementation) decisions.

Lenin

No. Lenin Miscellany XXXV

LENIN MISCELLANY

6153

NOTES AT THE DISCUSSION OF THE FUEL QUESTION
AT A SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE*

24 January 1921

1) They are mining garbage, waste rock, not coal.
2) There is no quality control.
3) They give garbage to the railroads, keep the good for themselves.
4) Speculation in coal.
5) Slack...
6) Loading...

2317

TELEGRAM TO THE SORMOVO PLANT

26 January 1921

The Sormovo plant is manufacturing a caterpillar crane for Hydroturf, but its manufacture is proceeding extraordinarily slowly. Given the necessity to test this crane during the upcoming summer season, I request that all efforts be applied so that this crane is fully completed in the month of April, so that in early May it can be delivered to "Electrotransmission," where it will

* The Council of Labor and Defense, having discussed this question, decided to establish a commission under the chairmanship of Comrade A. A. Andreyev, charging this commission with organizing an inquiry of comrades working directly in the Donbass, as well as in the Siberian and Ural coal regions to clarify the reasons for the catastrophic decline in coal extraction, loading, and delivery of quality coal.

Obligate all members of the congress of miners to appear when called to sessions of the above-mentioned commission to participate in its work, which the Council of Labor and Defense considers a matter of extraordinary state importance.

Instruct the commission to begin work 25 January 1921 regardless of how many have gathered.

Charge the commission to address the following questions:
1) % of waste rock in coal,
2) the presence of quality controllers,
3) the system of payment for coal,
4) coal for local needs,
5) speculation in coal,
6) loading apparatus.

Oblige the secretariat of the Council of Labor and Defense 24 January 1921 to notify all members of the commission of the convocation for 25 January 1921 and to request the Manager of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars to send a stenographer to this session (protocol No. 181, item 2).

YEAR 1921

be subjected to comprehensive testing, so that, once all necessary improvements are clarified by this model, we can proceed to mass production of cranes.

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

7003

TELEPHONE MEMORANDUM TO THE HEAD OF THE MOSCOW
DEPARTMENT OF ROSTA

28 January 1921

I propose that measures be taken and it be ensured that the attached "Instruction Regarding the Procedure for Drawing Up a Plan of Mandatory Sowing" be absolutely published in "Izvestiya of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee" tomorrow, 29 January of this year.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

ON THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF EDUCATION

6159

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF EDUCATION

28 January 1921

1) to Comrade M. N. Pokrovsky
2) to Comrade E. A. Litkens
3) to Comrade O. Yu. Schmidt

I request that you send me today by 8 o'clock in the evening:

1) existing printed materials (in reports, articles, brochures, etc.) with the text of the existing laws (resolutions, instructions)
regarding schools of the 1st and 2nd grades
2) the same—regarding technical schools
3) " regarding trade schools

4) regarding the number of lower, middle, as well as higher educational institutions;
5) regarding the number of functioning and closed or non-functioning schools and educational institutions of different grades and types;
6) besides this, if there are no printed materials—and if it is impossible to indicate the numbers of newspapers or journals where these materials have been published—I request that you send unpublished data on the indicated questions, if such data are available.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

6260

LETTER TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY

14 February 1921

To Comrade Lunacharsky
Copies to Comrade Pokrovsky and Comrade Litkens

I request that you provide me with a list of pedagogues with solid practical experience (a) in general pedagogical work
in general;
(b) in professional-technical education,—with brief notes about their literary works and their record of Soviet work.

I have requested this more than once. There should be no delays here.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

P.S. In particular, I request information about Sergei Pavlovich, director of the former Tenishev school in Petersburg.

2319

ADDITION TO A TELEGRAM FROM THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF SOCIAL SECURITY

31 January 1921

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Tatar Republic, Kazan

I request that you urgently confirm the special merits toward Soviet Russia of Nikolai Golubiatnikov, killed 2 March 1920 while carrying out his official duties as head of a section of criminal investigation, for the purpose of appointing an enhanced pension.—People's Commissariat of Social Security, Vinokurov.

By telegraph

I confirm the request. I request a quick reply by telegraph.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

TOWARD A SPEECH AT THE 4TH ALL-RUSSIAN CONGRESS
OF TAILORS*

4 February 1921

6207

NOTE ON A TELEPHONE MEMORANDUM

The Presidium of the 4th Congress of the
Union of Garment Workers of Russia, by the unanimous
Tell him that to his regret
I cannot.
wish of its delegates, requests Comrade Lenin to visit
the assembly on 5 February 1921 at 11 o'clock in the
morning in the Blue Hall of the House of the Unions.

Presidium of the Congress

6219

NOTE ON A MEMORANDUM FROM A SECRETARY

Vladimir Ilyich, should I remind you tomorrow
Yes, call at 11,
at 11 o'clock regarding the tailors' congress, for example, if you are still asleep?

10469

DIRECTIVE**

5 February 1921

Allow the train to Kropotkin.

Remind me about the letter tomorrow.

* V. I. Lenin spoke at the tailors' congress with a speech on 6 February 1921. See Works, Vol. XXVI, pp. 150–156.

** Written in response to the following notice from a secretary: "Semashko requests permission for a special train for doctors who are supposed to go tomorrow to a consultation with Kropotkin. They told him at the People's Commissariat of Railroads that he needs Your permission. He sent you a letter the other day about trains with workers to Crimea. He requests an answer."

LENIN MISCELLANY

23826

RESOLUTION AND NOTES ON A LIST OF BOOKS
AND BROCHURES RECEIVED FROM ABROAD

Not before 9 February 1921

I request that you send the underlined items and return this list.

Lenin

List of books and brochures received from abroad*

Language
Author
Title
Publisher
Year of
Publication
Place of
Printing
Quantity

German
Franz Mehring
"Freiligrath and Marx in Their Correspondence"
Dietz
1920
Stuttgart

F. Engels and K. Marx
"Founding of the Empire and the Commune"

"
"
"

Karl Marx
The Class Struggles in France

"
"
"

English
N. N. Bray­ilsford
The War of Steel and Gold
Bell and Sons
1918
London

Z. Kahan-Coates
The Life and Work of Friedrich Engels
Communist Party
1920
London

335.5

* Translation:
Franz Mehring. "Freiligrath and Marx in Their Correspondence."
F. Engels and K. Marx. "Founding of the Empire and the Commune."
Karl Marx. "The Class Struggle in France."
N. N. Brailsford. "The War of Steel and Gold."
Z. Kahan-Coates. "The Life and Work of Friedrich Engels."

YEAR 1921

6256

RECORD OF A RECEPTION OF A DAGESTANI DELEGATION

12 February 1921

Dagestan

Remind!

Dagestani delegation:

1) Bread.......
(come to an agreement with food supply agencies)
(they received nothing)
(and for seeds 50% of the unsown area...)

2) Manufactures
They received approximately 1 million arshin in March 1920
How much did the mountaineers receive? 1½–2 others
Dagestan—nothing.
mountaineers...

3) Transport. There is a highway.
Trucks needed,
40 minimum.

4) People's Communication
telephones telegraphs and radio.

5) Lithography (2 minimum) and paper
(6000 copies for 1.2 million. Only!!
All literate).

6) Request: send urgently by train.

Subbotniki took hold.

Lenin

ON CONCESSIONS

6255

MEMORANDUM TO STALIN AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO

12 February 1921

Secret

Replies have been received to the Politburo's inquiry regarding oil concessions both from Krasin (and Bogdatian), and from the chairman of the Chief Oil Administration, Dosser, and his 4 specialists*.

* The materials listed here have been published in the Lenin Miscellany XX, pp. 126–137.

LENIN MISCELLANY

These replies, in connection with the report "On the Situation of the Oil Industry at the End of 1920" (Baku, 1920)*, I am directing to Comrade Stalin and I request all members of the Politburo to get in touch with him in order to receive these materials from him in good time and to read them. (In the printed report it is sufficient even merely to glance through the passages I have marked in blue pencil on the pages listed on the cover, i.e., on the page before the text).

These materials must be read urgently, because at the Politburo (Monday 14 February at 8 o'clock in the evening) it is desirable to adopt a decision.

These materials prove fully that:
(a) catastrophe is threatening and drawing near;
(b) that concessions must be attempted by all possible means to be given (i.e., to find concessionaires) in Baku;
(c) that the head of the Chief Oil Administration is extraordinarily stupid. The stupidity of such a highly placed person is dangerous.

Briefly on all three of these points:

(a) Catastrophe is approaching. This is proven especially clearly by the specialists of the Chief Oil Administration. The fool Dosser in his "report memorandum" tries to minimize the danger. This is especially stupid. One must read the opinions of all the specialists of the Chief Oil Administration and compare them with Dosser's weakened conclusion.

(b) "The usefulness of attracting a concessionaire is questionable," is how Dosser formulates his conclusion. Evidently he has frightened his specialists, like a true well-meaning fool, that, supposedly, it is not "proper" for a "Soviet" person to be anything but against concessions!! A disservice truly bear-like!!

In reality, from the reports of the specialists of the Chief Oil Administration (reports that are businesslike and thoroughly confirmed by the printed report "through the end of 1920"), it is clear as day what conditions we must impose on the concessionaire.

Whether a concessionaire will be found on these conditions is, of course, "questionable." But no politician who has not lost his mind would ask this question of either Dosser or the specialists.

Our task is to apply all efforts so that such concessionaires are found.

If they are not found, so much the worse for us.

If we are unable to apply all efforts to find a concessionaire, then we will be bankrupt.

It is necessary to accelerate the matter of working out conditions.

It is necessary to immediately begin a struggle against the most harmful prejudice, which may easily carry along part of the workers and which must be overcome at all costs. This prejudice consists of the "idea": "we do not want to work for capitalists" or the variant: "we do not want to work for capitalists, if alongside us workers are working not for capitalists."

The harm of this prejudice (refuted both by our program of the Russian Communist Party and by Marxism in general) is clear from the following approximate calculation, which provides a clear summary of the specialists' reports.

We extract 100a of oil.
Extraction is falling.
Watering threatens catastrophe.
If we attract a concessionaire who will help extract 100a + 100b of oil, and if for this we pay him 98b, then our extraction, although slowly (100a + 2b), will increase, instead of falling.

The question is: are the workers "working for capitalists," those who give 98b out of 100b to the concessionaire, or are they working for Soviet power?

The answer is not difficult.

I very much request that you look through the attached materials and reports as quickly as possible, so that a decision can be made as quickly as possible. Delay is extremely dangerous.

Lenin

37907

TELEGRAM TO L. V. KRASIN
LONDON

19 March 1921

To Krasin

The Party Congress approved the line I was defending regarding concessions in Grozny and in Baku*. Accelerate negotiations on these, as well as on any other concessions. Keep me informed more frequently.

Lenin

8501

TELEPHONE MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

11 August 1921

Regarding the SKF (Swedish ball-bearing company) I have serious doubts. Has the legal side of the matter been sufficiently clarified, i.e., have our interests been safeguarded?

* See Lenin. Works, Vol. XXVI, pp. 278–279.

LENIN MISCELLANY

This interest requires that we not in the slightest degree allow any weakening of the principle that we are the owners of all nationalized enterprises and warehouses. Into the hands of former owners these enterprises and warehouses can pass only through the formal purchase of these warehouses from us by them. We may sometimes make a concession, transferring these enterprises and warehouses for a low price, but we can never renounce our property rights.

I request that this matter be checked with special care from this point of view. In particular, I request that the check be made in the People's Commissariat of Justice, where this matter was personally known and conducted by Kursky, and it is necessary either to find Kursky or to find in the People's Commissariat of Justice a person no less informed than Kursky.

Lenin

Printed from a typewritten copy.

7868

REPLY TO A MEMORANDUM FROM A SECRETARY*

Not later than 17 August 1921

If it is "unanimous," then I am ready to sign immediately and then everything is finished. Let all members sign (the subcommission and the commission), and I will sign.

If that is not the case and for some reason a commission with my participation is needed, then we will set a deadline right now: either today at 9 o'clock,
or tomorrow at 12 o'clock,
or Friday at 12 o'clock.

Get in touch with Kursky.

* The Secretary of the Council of People's Commissars, M. I. Glasser, informed V. I. Lenin: "Vladimir Ilyich, I asked Kursky why he did not submit yesterday to the Council of People's Commissars the question about concessions with the firm SKF (ball-bearing). He said that their subcommission came to a unanimous decision about the infeasibility of the main condition itself (transfer of warehouses to them) which this company sets. Therefore they find it necessary to reconsider this question again with a commission under Your participation."

YEAR 1921


7463

ON THE BZYBSKAYA FOREST CONCESSION IN THE CAUCASUS

MEMORANDUM FROM I. V. STALIN

31 August 1921

Comrade Lenin!

I am sending the agreement of the Georgians with the concessionaires.

I. Stalin

DIRECTIVE TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE

1 September 1921

It is necessary (1) to clarify whether the Georgian comrades observed the condition (was there such a Party condition?) not to conclude concessions without our consent?

(2) to study whether the conditions of the given agreement are advantageous in substance (in particular, who is the super-arbiter?). For this, through the Central Committee appoint 1–3 experts and charge them with providing a written conclusion.

Do both (1) and (2) (through the Central Committee)*.

Lenin


7507

DIRECTIVE TO THE CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE

13 September 1921

To the Concessions Committee
of the Supreme Council of the National Economy

Copy to the Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy

I propose that today and as quickly as possible you inform me:

1) when was the first report by the chairman (or member) of the Concessions Committee to the Central Committee about the concession of Leslie Urquart (Kyshtym, Ridder, Ekibastuz plants, etc.)?

* Having discussed this question on 30 September 1921, the Council of Labor and Defense decided to accept the agreement: "Approve the draft decision submitted by Comrade Ordzhonikidze" (protocol No. 254, item 7).

LENIN MISCELLANY

2) Who was the reporter?

3) What materials regarding this matter were requested and received from the localities? (descriptions of plants? recent reports of these plants, etc.?).

4) A brief, 2–3 line list of each of the documents (date? from whom is the document? about what?—sent inquiry; received reply; taken from the archive such-and-such report; conclusion of such-and-such specialist, etc.).

The Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the Manager of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars personally—and by telephone—verify the swift implementation.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

Lenin

7942

TO THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

23 November 1921

Secret

Yesterday the Council of People's Commissars forwarded to Your commission the question of the agreement with Steinberg. Today in "Izvestiya" Gorsky calculates that Steinberg will make a profit of 194 billion Soviet rubles on 100,000 kilos of saccharin (while it will cost him 600,000 rubles per kilo, i.e., all 100,000 kilos will cost him 60,000 million = 60 billion; % of profit therefore 194 : 60 = 323%).

If Gorsky's calculation is correct, the profit is gigantic. It appears that the RSFSR has a share of the super-profit, counting as super-profit the profit exceeding 250%?

Is it not possible to:

(1) haggle so that we have a special share of the super-profit, counting super-profit as 100% or 200%?

(2) specifically ensure ourselves the possibility of teaching our people (especially in the Consumer Cooperative Center) the methods and organization of trade?

(3) specifically ensure ourselves the possibility to terminate the agreement sooner, when we, fools, have learned from clever people.

In my opinion, the agreement nonetheless, after haggling a hundred times and checking a hundred times, must be concluded, because for the learning the fools must pay a high price.

I request your opinion.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
Lenin


MEMORANDUM TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

17 February 1922

I have not been provided, despite my letter, with the report on the expedition to clarify the Ridder concession. Get the report from the representative of the commission that went there for a report by tomorrow, no more than two pages in any case.

I am afraid that with us, as is usual, the report is a whole volume, which no one will read.

Get in touch formally with the chairman of the commission and with Krzhizhanovsky, who has made me unfulfilled promises*.

Lenin

8269

LETTER TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

21 February 1922

Both summaries are compiled poorly. They do not know how to separate technology from economics,—conclusions from conditions.

I propose to You:

1) Achieve so that both the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the State Planning Commission separately, in a short time, provide their conclusion, signed by responsible persons.

2) Immediately undertake exploratory measures so that we can from all members of the Mikhailov commission separately and with the least possibility of them conspiring with each other (Your task to arrange this cleverly: contact everyone, at what hours each is free, "seize" them with motorcycles, etc.), obtain a written and signed opinion.

3) The opinion should follow the following program (explanations and notes separately).

1. Possible extraction at .... million rubles in gold.
a) now
b) with an additional expenditure of ...... million rubles in gold over a period of
...... years.
(separately for Kyshtym, Ridder, Ekibastuz, Tanalyk).

* The memorandum was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from a typewritten copy.

LENIN MISCELLANY

2. Can we manage without a concessionaire (probably) or not? If not, why?

a) due to lack of capital?
b) due to the impossibility of buying and bringing in first-class equipment?
c) due to the impossibility of hiring first-class engineers?
d) due to the impossibility of buying and bringing in food? clothing? workers? or for other (what?) reasons?

3. Conclusion: a) agree to Urquart's conditions?
b) alter them? how?
c) reject them completely?

First manage (quickly) to catch all the members of the commission separately and obtain from them a written reply to these questions.

Then tell me the summary and after that we will put pressure on the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the State Planning Commission.

Lenin

25612

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE UNDER THE STATE PLANNING COMMISSION

11 March 1922

Comrade Krzhizhanovsky

The Concessions Committee under the State Planning Commission is charged with the duty of collecting and concentrating with itself detailed materials on all concessions negotiations and concessions matters of the RSFSR with foreign capitalists, being conducted both in Russia and abroad. The collection of materials must also be undertaken for the past.

The Concessions Committee must maintain an accurate registration list of these materials with the following subdivisions:

a) concluded agreements;
b) serious negotiations by which agreements may be concluded in the near future;
c) broken-off negotiations (indicate the reason);
d) all other negotiations.

In the list there should be brief indications of the content of the matter (approximately: the state of negotiations, the object of the concession, the name of the concession-seekers, the approximate or precise amount of capital, the number under which the matter is stored).

A copy of this list must be sent to the Manager of Affairs of the Council of Labor and Defense and be replenished monthly with new information.

The Concessions Committee must appoint a responsible person for the collection of materials and compilation of the list (manager of affairs, secretary), whose name must be urgently reported to the Manager of Affairs of the Council of Labor and Defense*.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

44460

TELEPHONE MEMORANDUM
TO I. V. STALIN

4 September 1922

To Comrade Stalin

Opinion of Comrade Lenin. Directives of V. I.—4. IX. transmitted to Stalin.

Grant the concession to Urquart only on the condition that he provide us with a large loan.

All members of the Politburo should familiarize themselves with the memorandum of the Mikhailov commission, which went to inspect the plants to be given in concession to Urquart and expressed negative views.

Enemies count on the complete destruction of the basic capital of our transport and industry. It is necessary to find means to restore this capital by imposing taxes on all articles of consumption, bringing to a maximum the taxes on such articles as sugar, beer.

Bear in mind internal compulsory loans and income tax.

Correct: Dzerzhinsky

Printed from a typewritten copy.

* On the same day V. I. Lenin issued an analogous directive to the chairman of the commission on mixed (credit and stock) companies (Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism, doc. No. 25353).

LENIN MISCELLANY

92484

TO THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

15 February 1921

I am sending you herewith:

1) An extract from the protocol of the general meeting of the Communist cell of the workers' faculty of the Moscow Higher Technical School of 9 February.

2) A report memorandum from the commissar of the workers' faculty of the Higher Technical School of 10 February.

3) An extract from the protocol of the joint session of the presidiums of the Communist cells of the Institute of Engineers of Transportation, the Petrovsky-Razumovsky Agricultural Academy* and the bureau of the Communist cell of the workers' faculty of the Moscow Higher Technical School** of 23 January of this year.

4) A copy of the report memorandum of an instructor of the cultural department of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions of 28 January of this year.

I propose that the Small Council of People's Commissars specially occupy itself with the question of workers' faculties, examine it comprehensively and achieve maximum improvement of the situation of workers' faculties.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

6295

NOTES ON A DRAFT REORGANIZATION OF GOELRO

18 February 1921

Lenin's copy.

Statute
On the State Commission for the Electrification of Russia (GOELRO)

Return.

1. The State Commission for Electrification of Russia (GOELRO), established according to the decision of the Council of Labor and Defense of 24 March 1920, is assigned to the Council of Labor and Defense as an organ for further development of the general plan of electrification of the RSFSR on the basis of a unified general-state economic plan and general supervision of the implementation of the electrification plan.

Reworked**. Note: Upon the establishment at the Council of Labor and Defense of a special organ for the development of a unified general-state economic plan, GOELRO enters into the composition of this organ.

2. The State Commission for Electrification of Russia is charged with:

a) consideration of the propositions of district (regional) administrative-economic organs of the Republic on questions of electrification and their coordination with the general-state plan thereof.

b) Consideration of the propositions of various commissariats and departments on the electrification of individual branches of state economy and their coordination with the general plan of electrification.

c) Consideration of the deadlines for the implementation of [and] establishment of the order of work for the implementation of the general plan of electrification and supervision of the steadfast implementation of this plan in practice.

d) Consideration of the production program of the electrotechnical industry of the Republic, as well as the import plan of necessary equipment and materials, with the aim of coordinating with the implementation of the general plan of electrification.

e) Development and implementation of measures of a general state character for the elevation and dissemination of electrotechnical knowledge in the country, the attraction of a broad circle of workers for the implementation of electrification, as well as broad propaganda of the ideas and plan of electrification and their implementation in the consciousness of the broad masses of the population.

3. The State Commission for Electrification of Russia is granted the right to establish district (regional) branches...

Rework the rest according to the new § 1.

Abolish § 2, because this is only the electrification part or part of the Electro subcommission.

? Is it necessary?

Right now?

§ 1. Under the Council of Labor and Defense, a General Planning Commission is established for the development of a unified general-state economic plan on the basis of the plan of electrification approved by the 8th Congress of Soviets and for general supervision of the implementation of this plan.

Economic tasks of the first priority, especially those which are to be implemented in the near term, in particular during 1921, must be worked out by the General Planning Commission or its subcommission most in detail, with full account taken of the existing conditions of concrete economic reality.

Lenin Miscellany XXXV

LENIN MISCELLANY

2354

TO THE CHUVASH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COPY TO THE REGIONAL FOOD PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE

CHEBOKSARY

24 February 1921

According to available information, there are 35,000 poods of meat within the Chuvash Republic, not delivered to railroad stations due to lack of horse-drawn transport. In view of the approaching onset of thaws, possible spoilage of meat, we propose that urgent measures be taken to provide the Food Procurement Committee with transport for the export of meat. Report immediately on the measures taken.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

2356

MEMORANDUM TO THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS OF UKRAINE

KHARKOV

25 February 1921

By direct wire

Please transmit my warmest greetings to the Fifth All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets and wishes for the greatest success in its work.

Long live the firm union of the poor peasants and workers in Soviet Ukraine.

Lenin

NOTE ON A MEMORANDUM FROM A SECRETARY

6324

26 February 1921

If it's for 5 minutes, then I can [come] at 2¾ [o'clock], if you manage to move the Turkish delegation*.

Vladimir Ilyich, two women delegates have just arrived from the non-party conference; there they are demanding so insistently that You come, even for 5 minutes, that no one can deal with them. Semashko they did not want to listen to.

The delegates say that the women workers want to go in a whole mass to the Kremlin if You do not come to them. [The conference] closes at 8 o'clock. They are asking for an answer.

* V. I. Lenin spoke at the conference on 26 February 1921; a stenographic record of his speech has not been preserved.

YEAR 1921

TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL MEASURES
FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FOOD TAX

40313

MEMORANDUM TO A. D. TSIURUPA

February 1921

Comrade Tsiurupa! From Your figures it is evident that as of 1 February 40.3 grain-food + 5.4 grain = 45.7.

Probably as of 1 March there will be around 48.

As of 1 April, probably there will be no less than 50.

1 April—1 September, that is 5 months. 50 : 5 = 10.

From this approximate calculation it is evident that for Russia, for the RSFSR (without Ukraine) it is entirely possible to fully abolish the requisition from 15 March or from 1 April and until 1 September or until 15 August to try a new regime.

Your opinion?

40329

FROM A MEMORANDUM FROM A. D. TSIURUPA

First half of March 1921

Comrade Tsiurupa! We will probably gather our commission this evening (we will barely manage during the day, after the opening, although we will try).

The center of gravity of the question—"circulation," free economic circulation for the peasantry.

You have not sufficiently understood this... The whole essence is to be able to move circulation, exchange (and export from the south beyond the border and exchange with factories). Otherwise collapse.

NB. Think about this and find a formula to insert this.

2) Order immediately the figures: how much bread did we give in January 1921 and February (if not for the whole of February, then for 1/3 or 2/3 of February) 1921. How much imported, how much total.

Lenin

40322

MEMORANDUM TO A. D. TSIURUPA

15 March 1921

Why do you all remain silent about what deadline (by 1 October? by 1 November? etc.) you want to require the tax payment [to be made]? Is this not the essence?

Perhaps you will say [this] in your speech?

4364

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE

1 March 1921

I saw Ivan Afanasyevich Chekunov yesterday. It turned out he had already been to see me in 1919 on the question of a congress of laboring peasants. Now he says: it is better to start with regional [congresses].

He sympathizes with communists, but does not join the Party because he goes to church, a believer (I reject, he says, rituals, but am a believer).

He is improving his economy. He has traveled through Nizhny Novgorod and Simbirsk provinces. The peasants, he says, have lost confidence in Soviet power. Is it possible, I ask, to correct [this] with the tax? He thinks yes. In his own district he has achieved, with the help of workers, the replacement of bad Soviet power with good.

This is the kind of people we must with all our might try to hold onto to restore the confidence of the masses of peasants. This is the main political task and one that admits no delay. I very much request: do not be carried away too much by an "apparatus" point of view, do not be too worried about it. Pay more attention to the political attitude toward the peasantry.

In my opinion, it is necessary right now to "seize," i.e., to draw Chekunov into work with us. How to do this? We must think. Perhaps it is necessary to establish at once (to begin establishing, rather) a "council of laboring peasantry" or a "council of non-party peasants" (perhaps the latter name is more cautious to prevent [the inclusion of] those whom Chekunov calls "hissers," i.e., outright kulaks and enemies of Soviet power). Immediately appoint Chekunov—the plenipotentiary of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture for the organization (or preparation) of an institution of this kind. Immediately charge him with hastily traveling to Simbirsk province (we need an adviser and mediator from the province with surplus grain, better two mediators) and give him the assignment: bring to us here from Simbirsk province (he has acquaintances there) a non-party peasant, elderly, Russian, farmer, supporter of laboring peasants and workers, not a "hisser." Find one more. Better a trio: Chekunov + a man from Simbirsk + one more from a grain-deficit province. This trio of "old men" (it would be very good if all were both non-party and believers) we will immediately turn either into members of the collegium with a consultative voice, or into the nucleus of a "council of non-party peasants," or into a similar corporation.

This must be done quickly, immediately (he wants to leave the day after tomorrow).

Strike while the iron is hot. Answer me.

With communist greetings
Lenin

34044

MEMORANDUM TO M. N. POKROVSKY

Not before 4 March 1921

I very much doubt it and think it better to forward to the Politburo of the Central Committee. (Clarify also on what chairs or subjects?)*

* Written in reply to the following suggestion from M. N. Pokrovsky: "Vladimir Ilyich, we are now forming a Faculty of Social Sciences at the 1st Moscow University. We have appointed all communists who can be put in a chair. But hopes for their actual participation are slight. It is extremely tempting to use Mensheviks (Groman, Ermanski, Sukhanov, Cherevannin, and Martov). How do you view this?"

35003

LETTER TO THE MOSCOW COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

5 March 1921

In my opinion, a (secret?) circular from the Moscow Committee is needed on this matter
against slanderers, not going to the Control Commission and throwing slanderous accusations under the guise of "criticism."

Lenin

22071

ADDITION TO THE DRAFT DECISION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS ON THE COMPULSORY SCIENTIFIC MINIMUM IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

5 March 1921

It is necessary to add, on the basis of the resolution of the 8th All-Russian Congress of Soviets,

the plan of electrification, its economic foundations, economic geography of Russia, the significance and conditions for the implementation of the plan.

Lenin

8381

MEMORANDUM TO THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

25 March 1921

I have discovered that Comrade Nemitz was forced to wait 3½ hours in the Council of Defense and for nothing, because his question was not heard.

I find this improper and propose that henceforth the telephone and secretarial means of the Military Department and the Council of Defense establish such a connection so that Comrade Nemitz is notified several minutes in advance and arrives (in view of his illness) by automobile.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* Commander of all naval forces of the Republic.

ON THE ELIMINATION OF SHORTCOMINGS IN ANTI-RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA

42398

MEMORANDUM TO G. V. CHICHERIN

31 March 1921

Comrade Chicherin!

I fully agree with you. Draw up or charge [someone] with drawing up a draft of such a circular (is it not possible to include in it the whole speech of Narimanov or at least a recommendation of it—that is worse than everything)*.

Submit it to the Central Committee.

This is necessary.

Lenin

12569

LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Between 9 and 21 April 1921

To Comrade Molotov. If my memory does not deceive me, a letter or circular from the Central Committee has been printed in the newspapers regarding 1 May, and it is said there to expose the falsehood of religion or something like that.

This cannot be. This is tactless. It is precisely on the occasion of Passover that another [approach] must be recommended—

not to expose the falsehood,
but absolutely to avoid any offense to religion.

It is necessary to issue an additional letter or circular**. If the Secretariat disagrees, then to the Politburo.

Lenin

* The matter concerns the development of an appeal from the Central Committee of the RCP(b) to Party organizations of republics and regions with Muslim populations regarding the necessity, when conducting anti-religious propaganda, to observe tactfulness and not to offend the religious feelings of Muslims. In a letter to the Central Committee of the RCP(b), G. V. Chicherin mentioned one of the statements by N. N. Narimanov: "At one time Comrade Narimanov provided very valuable instructions to agitators in the East precisely on this question. His speech to the mullahs on the separation of church and state is a model of tactful approach to a Muslim audience" (this phrase was underlined by V. I. Lenin).

** In a circular letter from the Central Committee of the RCP(b), published in "Pravda" 21 April 1921, it was proposed, when celebrating 1 May, "in no case to allow any statements that would offend the religious feelings of the mass of the population."

LENIN MISCELLANY

37908

TELEGRAM TO V. V. VOROVSKY

8 April 1921

To Vorovsky

I will have to sort out Italian Socialist affairs, and I have no time to read everything. I request that you arrange to select the most important documents of all parties in the original, especially on the Turatians, and send them to me by the middle of May. Check personally.

Lenin

TELEGRAMS TO G. K. ORDZHONIKIDZE

6513

18 April 1921

To Baku, Ordzhonikidze*

First. According to information received, in Georgia there remained a Georgian State Bank with a complete staff of qualified employees and with deposits from foreign representatives. If this is true, it is necessary to preserve the bank as a credit apparatus for foreign trade and perhaps convert it into a bank for all the Transcaucasus in connection with the projected economic unification of the Transcaucasian republics.

Second. Abroad, fierce agitation is being conducted against the RSFSR in connection with the Sovietization of Georgia, especially by Martov, Tsereteli, and others. It is necessary that the Georgian Revolutionary Committee open serious counter-agitation, where should be noted, first, the peace-making role of the RSFSR, second—the active and initiative role of Georgian working-peasant and army masses who overthrew the Georgian bourgeois government, and, third, the role of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Soviet governments, which supported the insurgents as Armenians and Tatars, as well as Georgians, for the purpose of self-defense against aggressive steps of the Georgian bourgeois government, which formed in Tiflis Azerbaijani and Armenian bourgeois governments for an internal explosion of the Soviet regime in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Third. Collect carefully materials against the Menshevik Georgian government and bring them with you to Moscow to the Plenum.

Lenin

* The document is printed from a handwritten copy.
The address—"To Baku, Ordzhonikidze"—and the division into points ("First," "Second," "Third") were written by I. V. Stalin. He also made insertions in the text of the second point.

6497

19 April 1921

To Erivan, Comrade Ordzhonikidze

I have just learned from Stalin about the conclusion by you and Misuri of an agreement with a French firm for 50 million francs and about the arrival of the ship "Lusitania" with cargo worth 8 million francs. Confirm and report briefly the details: who heads Foreign Trade with you, are Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan unified in this regard...?

Lenin

Printed from a handwritten copy.

37466

29 June 1921, 11:10 a.m.

To Ordzhonikidze

I have just arrived and read your cipher. I hope today I will learn some details and will send you a cipher. For now I will say: do not get nervous, be patient, stay. Conduct an extremely cautious policy. The situation may soon turn for the better. Until what time will you still be in Vladikavkaz?

Lenin

37465

FROM A TELEGRAM

Early July 1921

Through Alliluyeva
All by cipher immediately
To Comrade Ordzhonikidze

...I have clarified the matter and see that through the front and through the superior local party institution you retain all rights and authority. I again request that you not get nervous and be patient a little longer.

Besides, you are charged with leadership of all external and internal policy of Azerbaijan and supervision of the implementation of the directives of the Central Committee and People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs regarding Persia, Armenia, and Georgia.

Reply.

Lenin

6616

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

19 April 1921

People's Commissariat of Public Health, Comrade Semashko
or, if he is absent, to whoever is carrying out his duties.

I request that you inform me whether there have been cases of cholera and other infectious diseases in Moscow recently (and especially in the last few days);

how many (if there were any);

how much increase compared with the previous [period];

what sanitary city-cleaning measures and what other sanitary measures have been prescribed (if such measures were prescribed) and what have been undertaken.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

6640

NOTE ON THE WORK OF THE CHIEF SALT ADMINISTRATION

25 April 1921

On the Chief Salt Administration

How much salt did the Chief Salt Administration provide the Republic (122 million pre-war)

1918—work on the main deposits was not conducted
1919—40 million (from previous stores)
1920—25 million (in round figures)
Plan: 1921—62 [million].

6638

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE

COPIES TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD AND THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

25 April 1921

In view of the extreme urgency of the question of measures to combat drought, I request that you immediately convene a conference of representatives of the interested People's Commissariats, so that the draft decree can be submitted, in developed and coordinated form, no later than Wednesday, 27 April 1921, to the Council of Labor and Defense*.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

10486

NOTE ON A REPORT REGARDING PAPER FROM THE KAMENSKAYA FACTORY

After 25 April 1921

The first issue in the quantity of approximately 17 poods at the Kamenskaya State Printing Paper Factory, 22 April 1921.

* See the decision of the Council of Labor and Defense "On Combating Drought" in the "Collection of Laws and Decrees" No. 49, 1921, art. 250.

LENIN MISCELLANY

Composition of the paper (newspaper)
wood pulp 60%
cotton 30%
wood 10%
a negligible quantity of asbestos.
100%

The paper was made: without sizing. The wood pulp, due to the fault of the factory apparatus, was insufficiently cooked, inadequately bleached and over-ground.

What is this paper Commission at the Kamenskaya State
like for writing? Printing Paper Factory with the participation of the local
director of the factory from wood pulp-waste,
swept from the floor, thrown out as useless refuse and delivered
from the Rzhevskaya State Flax-Combing Mill, was engaged in
the production of paper from 12 to 25 April 1921.

In the paper produced in the quantity of approximately 100 poods it is proposed to print part of the May Day issue of the newspaper "Pravda."

TO THE TYPESETTING FOR THE BROCHURE
"ON THE FOOD TAX"*

27 April 1921

To the Compositor:

It is necessary to set in uniform bold type all the headings

All these headings in the same type
(See page 3: "Instead of the Introduction"
3: "On the Contemporary Economy of Russia"
12: "On the Food Tax, etc."
27: "Political Results and Conclusions"
32: "Conclusion")

Lenin

* See Works, Vol. XXVI, pp. 317–352.

1921 YEAR
2553
TELEGRAM TO AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT
OF FOOD SUPPLY IN ROSTOV-ON-DON
AND SIBERIAN FOOD COMMITTEE IN OMSK
28 April 1921

In view of the aggravated food supply situation, orders are given to intensify the loading of provisions for the Center and in no case to allow any interruption in loading on holiday dates.

Chairman of Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

6654
TO STATE PUBLISHING HOUSE
COPY TO BOOK CHAMBER
28 April 1921

I propose that you entrust the Book Chamber with carrying out the following work as an experiment:

1) From the most important newspapers ("Izvestiya VTSIK," "Pravda," "Economic Life," "Petrograd Pravda") and central regional newspapers—Ukrainian, Caucasian, Siberian, Ural, and so on (altogether no more than 10 newspapers including the central ones)—make clippings for the month of May of all materials concerning economic, household, and production questions, including all reports and statistical materials, classify them in detail and paste them into albums; compile four parallel sets of such albums.

2) Compile a most detailed systematic and alphabetical index to the monthly set of the indicated newspapers, which would encompass all materials contained in the newspaper, including advertisements.

For the indicated work, establish piece-rate payment and, provided it is executed well, which would satisfy the Council of People's Commissars, award a bonus with partial naturalization of payment by agreement with the premium department of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions.

Send me a report on execution through the manager of affairs of the Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

TELEPHONOGRAM TO PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE
29 April 1921

By telephone:

The People's Commissariat of Agriculture is unlawfully absent* and I fear that questions concerning taxation (wool, tobacco) are being prepared inattentively by it without sufficient safeguarding of farmers' interests.* Give me an answer.*

Lenin

ON COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP OF LOCAL
ECONOMIC COUNCILS

2558
TELEGRAM TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCILS
29 April 1921

Circular

To All Regional Economic Councils

I propose:

1) to send promptly, without delay, the minutes of Economic Council sessions to the Administrative Office of the Council of Defense in three copies;

2) to attach to the Economic Council minutes copies of all materials on the basis of which the question was decided (written reports, theses, etc.), as well as complete stenographic records of sessions, if they are kept;

3) to send to the Administrative Office of the Council of Defense in three copies the economic journals and newspapers published both by the Economic Council and by individual economic organs.

Chairman of Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

2578
TELEGRAM TO CHAIRMAN OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
YEKATERINBURG
6 May 1921

In the affairs of the Council of Defense there is not a single minute from a session of the Urals Regional Economic Council, the Council of the Labor Army. I propose urgently to send to the Council of Defense all minutes with complete appendices of materials: resolutions of an economic character from 1 January 1921. In future send without delay.

Chairman of Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

25470
FROM MEMORANDUM TO DEPUTY MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF SNK AND COUNCIL OF DEFENSE*
16 May 1921

1) Maintain contact with regional Economic Councils and monitor, by telegrams, materials and minutes received from them, their work, periodically informing the Chairman of the Council of Defense of the results of their work and their fulfillment of Council of Defense assignments, and also provide them, with the knowledge of comrade Lenin, or by agreement with the appropriate People's Commissariats, explanations and directives on arising questions.

2) Review the minutes and materials of provincial Economic Councils from the point of view of verifying the execution of Council of Defense resolutions and general directives, carefully monitor the work of the most important typical provincial Economic Councils, a list of which should be submitted for approval to comrade Lenin.

* The document is printed from the original, corrected, supplemented, and signed by V. I. Lenin.

3) Keep abreast of the work of the collegium of economic People's Commissariats, the State Planning Commission, and planning commissions established by Council of Defense resolution.

4) Monitor in newspapers, reports, and special publications of economic and statistical organs the economic and household life of the country.

5) Monitor the actual execution of the most important Council of Defense resolutions and assignments and report on this to comrade Lenin.

6) Execute special instructions of the Chairman of the Council of Defense and manager of affairs of the Council of People's Commissars on economic, household, and production questions.

7) Prepare insufficiently prepared economic, household, and production questions coming before the agenda of the Council of Defense.

8) On the initiative, with the consent of comrade Lenin, prepare and raise, through the appropriate People's Commissariats or directly in the Council of Defense, questions arising from the materials being studied.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

ADDITIONS
19 May 1921

Added to § 3: "State Planning Commission"

Section 9 is added: "Hold regular consultations with the editor of 'Economic Life' to achieve the fullest coordination of its work with the work of the Council of Defense."

Chairman of Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Note: Send a brief article about this to "Economic Life."

Lenin

2831
TELEGRAM TO ALL ECONOMIC COUNCILS
COPY TO STATISTICAL BUREAU
12 November 1921, Moscow, Kremlin

The deadlines for submitting reports to the Council of Defense, established by law for 15 October—1 November, have been missed by you. Your reports have not been received by the Council of Defense. I call your attention to carelessness, procrastination, and demand timely submission by the deadline. Immediately inform the Council of Defense of the names, surnames, and official positions of persons responsible for timely compilation and submission of reports. Transmit the same directive to the districts.

Chairman of Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

43337
TO THE COMMISSION FOR EDITING MINUTES OF THE TENTH CONGRESS
OF THE RCP(b)
30 April 1921

Dear Comrades!

I ask you, if possible, to send me copies of my speeches at the Tenth Party Congress of the RCP.

I need them in view of quotations in foreign newspapers.

Cross out 2 words.

Your Lenin

42428
MEMORANDUM TO G. V. CHICHERIN*
30 April 1921

Comrade Chicherin!

Please hold this for a while. I don't need it.

With communist greetings
Lenin

P.S. It is unforgivable that all such things are not sent to you sooner and more properly. Give hell to Martens and Klyshko.

* G. V. Chicherin wrote to V. I. Lenin: "The American book you sent is extremely interesting and valuable. It contains materials about which I knew absolutely nothing, for example: a collection of dispatches from Francis and Robins from Moscow in 1918. The excerpts from the protocols of the Versailles conferences on the question of Prinkipo are very interesting. Our materials and those concerning us have been collected very sensibly and with great completeness. I shall try to get this book for myself from England. It is necessary to have it at hand for reference.

Do you need me to return this copy to you soon or can I keep it for a while?"

The reference is to the book: William Hard. Raymond Robins Own Story, published in New York and London in 1920.

2047
TO CENTROSOYUZ
April 1921

Is it not possible, at the expense of military transport (such a directive exists from the Central Committee, adopted yesterday), to strengthen the supply of seed potatoes from abroad?

This must be done.

In March, 620 military echelons were transported (620!!!). Before planting, it would be possible to transport 500 × 0.8 = 400,000 poods of seed potatoes.

Press hard!

Lenin

FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE ON THE MATTER OF SPECIALISTS
IN THE SVIR HYDROELECTRIC STATION CONSTRUCTION

7164
MEMORANDUM TO MANAGER OF AFFAIRS
April 1921

Regarding the matter of arrested builders of hydroelectric stations on the Svir, it is necessary to find out:

1) in whose hands and at what stage it is;

2) have those been released against whom no concrete accusation has been brought thus far;

3) likewise: those who could be released conditionally;

4) has the technical expertise of the charge been set up soundly?

LETTER TO F. E. DZERZHINSKY
30 July 1921

Comrade Dzerzhinsky!

Do you know about this matter?

I am told that there was surely malicious denunciation here—slander by some offended or vengeful persons.

If you don't know, instruct someone to report to me who (from among responsible comrades, fully reliable) knows this matter well and has studied it thoroughly himself.

Please return this with a brief opinion.

With communist greetings
Lenin

Printed from the typewritten copy.

6668
LETTER TO THE PETROGRAD SOVIET
5 May 1921

I am informed:

1) that sculptor Ginzburg, who is making a bust of Plekhanov, is in need of materials, clay, and so on

2) that the graves of Plekhanov and Zasulich are neglected.

Couldn't an order be given on both points to look after, press, check?

Lenin

ON THE PURCHASE OF FOOD ABROAD
FOR STARVING REGIONS

4'1991
TELEGRAM TO THE DELEGATION OF THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT
LONDON
10 May 1921

The order given to you for two million poods of bread must be executed immediately. Buy the nearest even small shipments anywhere, without worrying about cost. You can, against this order, buy any other nutritive products and preserves. Is it not possible to obtain something quickly from Canada? You may pay a moderate premium for speed of delivery to Baltic ports.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade
Krasin

Printed from typewritten copy.

6815
NOTE ON THE LIST OF PRODUCTS PURCHASED AND DISPATCHED
TO RUSSIA
10 May 1921

In the cover about the purchase of provisions abroad (and remind me every day).

ASSIGNMENTS TO THE COMMISSION FOR CHECKING THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE RAILWAY IN THE EMBA REGION*
11 May 1921

Draft decision for Wednesday

The commission's maximum deadline is one month. Three weeks would be preferable.

* The Council of Defense, having discussed on 11 May 1921 the draft written by V. I. Lenin, resolved:

The deadline is counted until the commission's return to Moscow.

Commission assignments:

1) Check on the spot what part of the work has been completed (on the construction of the Algemba) and in particular what part of the materials has been used for the completed section of the line and what remains in addition.

2) The commission must clarify what real possibilities there are of safeguarding the materials and returning them in case the Algemba construction is discontinued.

3) The commission must clarify what conditions (in terms of material consumption, etc.) exist for transferring the Algemba construction from shock enterprises to ordinary ones.

4) The commission must clarify what conditions will be for conducting work in general and, in particular, the conditions for utilizing materials already at the site if work continues without laying rails.

Lenin

6737
MEMORANDUM TO PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
M. F. VLADIMIRSKY
17 May 1921

Comrade Vladimirsky!

How stands the matter with the regionalization of the RSFSR?

It would seem that we should hurry with this business and coordinate it with the State Planning Commission.

Please write who is on the commission, how the work is proceeding, etc.

With communist greetings
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the handwritten copy.

"Approve the draft of the commission's assignment proposed by comrade Lenin. Instruct the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the State Planning Commission to submit the surnames of their candidates within 24 hours" (Protocol No. 212, item 7).

PLAN OF SPEECH AT THE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS*
May 1921

1. Transitional examination from 3rd to 4th year.

2. From Narodnaya Volya to social democracy in Russia, from the II to the III International in the world.

3. 1st year: 1886—1903. ((17))

4. 2nd year: 1903—1917. ((14))

5. 3rd year: 1917—1921. ((4))

6. 4th year: 1921—? (1931)

7. "Not" is the last and decisive battle. But... it is near (years).

8. On a world scale the victory is difficult (bis, ter), but sure.

9. Checkmate for capitalism and capitalists.

10. Alias**: in Russia the cause of communism will be firm.

11. End of private property. Unification of labor against property.

12. India "doesn't count"? Doch!***

13. "Versailles Treaty"?

13 bis. International trade.

14. The economic front is difficult.

15. Is the proletariat becoming declassed? Yes! What conclusions? Petty-proprietary ideology.

16. Large-scale production and machinery—material and psychological base of the proletariat. Inde**** declassment****

17. Politics plus, economics minus.

18. Steadfastness, party spirit.

19. Economic front.

Transitional examinations: bread, fuel. 1917
(food tax)  1918  1919)
1920 versus 1921

20. Economic experience already exists,—build systematically, unswervingly, firmly further.

21. Labor discipline, increase of labor productivity, organization of labor, increase of quantity of products, merciless struggle against laxity and bureaucratism.

22. By this thou shalt conquer.

* The speech plan was being prepared by V. I. Lenin for delivery at the Fourth Congress of Trade Unions, which took place 17—25 May 1921.

** Otherwise.
*** All the same!
**** Whence.
***** See Works, vol. XXVI, pp. 392—394.

2610
TELEGRAM TO ALL PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES AND PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
COPY TO PROVINCIAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARDS
23 May 1921

The introduction of the food tax led to the abolition of over-requisitioning and redistribution, which, although it generally alleviates the situation of the peasantry, at the same time deprives Red Army families and poor peasantry of help that they had received from stronger households through internal redistribution.

Therefore, the work of social welfare organs acquires especially important political significance, which is why it is necessary to place it on a level with the work of shock organs. To this end, the following is proposed:

1) Review the composition of the collegium of provincial and district social welfare boards, appointing the most energetic and capable workers, including persons who know the village.

2) Return to social welfare work experienced workers engaged in other work, and in particular workers of hospital funds.

3) Immediately inform the People's Commissariat of Social Welfare by telegraph of all changes in the composition of the social welfare board collegium.

4) Ensure that the organs of social welfare have everything necessary for proper and regular work.

At the same time, taking into account the weakness of the Republic's resources, it is necessary to organize peasant mutual aid on the basis of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of 14 May, for which purpose it is proposed to conduct extensive agitation for the creation of mutual aid committees, explaining their significance and usefulness to the peasantry and indicating that with the creation of mutual aid committees the state will in no way reduce the aid currently being rendered to the poorest peasantry and Red Army families, but on the contrary will do everything to deepen and expand it.

To this end, it is proposed to assign a cadre of instructors and agitators, organize the publication of popular leaflets and posters explaining the idea of mutual aid, and assist in every way the creation of committees and the development of their activity.

Emphasizing the exceptional political significance and importance of carrying out the indicated measures, the Provincial Executive Committee and Provincial Committee are proposed to discuss measures for their most successful implementation and immediately instruct the districts.

Responsibility for the execution of this is placed on the head of the executive committee.

On the head of the provincial social welfare board is placed, under his personal responsibility, the requirement to report every two weeks by telegraph to the People's Commissariat of Social Welfare on the measures taken and the concrete results achieved, striving by all means to obtain similar information from the heads of district social welfare boards.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Secretary of the Central Committee of the RCP
Molotov

Deputy People's Commissar of Social Welfare
N. Milyutin

Printed from typewritten copy.

MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV
2609
26 May 1921

In my opinion, it is necessary to appoint, personally, a responsible editor, answerable for the sensible presentation of speeches, shortened, with the elimination of everything not entirely suitable for publication*.

Lenin

10697
FROM MEMORANDUM TO PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF POSTS AND TELEGRAPH
31 May 1921

...I propose that on Wednesday, 1 June, a report be made to the Council of Defense on the calendar program of radiotelephone construction of the first stage (that is, the installation of radiotelephone receivers in provincial and district centers within a 2,000-verst radius around Moscow) and on the same day place on the agenda all questions connected with radiotelephone construction, namely: the transfer of the workshop of the former Anosov workshop to the jurisdiction of the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph, concerning the supply of radiotelephone work with money signs directly from the center, etc.

The People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph is instructed to precisely designate the person who bears personal responsibility for the fulfillment within the deadline of the entire program of radiotelephone construction presented for approval by the Council of Defense*.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

23055
MEMORANDUM TO L. B. KRASIN
May 1921

To Krasin

All loans are very necessary for us, because the main thing now is to obtain, and immediately, a commodity fund for exchange for bread with the peasants. This immediate goal must now direct all the policy of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade.

Answer me on this.

Lenin

2166
TO THE NIZHNY-NOVGOROD ECONOMIC COUNCIL
COPY TO THE CHEKA
2 June 1921

On 7 May a telegram of the following content was sent to you from the Administrative Office of the Council of Defense under No. 417: "Nizhny-Novgorod, Economic Council. Telegraph whether the figure of 6,769,800 poods of peat of presumed production in 1921, indicated in protocol No. 9, is correct."

On 26 May, under No. 491, you were sent a reminder.

In view of still not receiving an answer to both these telegrams, I propose that you immediately submit an explanation of the reason for the delay and an answer to the substance of the inquiry, and I propose that the Cheka investigate the cause of the delay and punish those responsible, informing the Administrative Office of the Council of Defense of their names and positions.

Chairman of the Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

TELEGRAM TO HEADS OF PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
COPY TO PROVINCIAL STATISTICAL BUREAU
3 June 1921

The economic construction of the Republic, the compilation of a single plan of the national economy, the proper and timely implementation of the food tax require from the state statistics special exertion of effort and a planned course of work, both in the urgent processing of materials of the 1920 census available in the Provincial Statistical Bureau, and in the conduct of surveys during the spring, summer, and autumn periods of sown areas, the quantity and condition of livestock, the productivity of industrial enterprises, nest, dynamic, and budget surveys of farms. All assignments of the Central Statistical Administration to local organs must be precisely executed within the established deadline according to a unified program. I reaffirm the necessity of taking measures ensuring the work of the Provincial Statistical Bureau, in particular ensuring the bureau with labor by drawing in, in the order of labor conscription, employees of other institutions with wide application of piece-rate principles, ensuring the means of transportation for expedition work, ensuring premises, complete equipment, timely supply of money signs and provisions.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLICATION OF THE DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE
TO LOCAL SOVIET INSTITUTIONS*

2215
LETTER TO V. A. AVANESON
5 June 1921

Comrade Avaneson! I cannot be at the commission tomorrow. Please, when everything is finished, before presenting it to the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee for approval (it does approve it, doesn't it?) send me the text so that I am given absolutely the possibility of making my corrections before approval by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (the directive of the Council of Defense and Council of People's Commissars,—the position on the Provincial Economic Council and so forth).

I also ask very much: observe in the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee strict punishment of Provincial Executive Committees (no less than arrest for the head... and so on; no less than censure of "provincial heads"). If less, bring a complaint to the Central Committee, I will support you.

Answer me on this in a couple of words.

With communist greetings
Lenin

6997
TO ALL PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS OR THEIR DEPUTIES
27 June 1921

To All People's Commissars or Their Deputies

Comrade Avaneson sent you yesterday the printed draft of the directive of the Council of Defense and Council of People's Commissars with questions for reports.

This draft will finally be approved by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on Thursday, 30 June.

It is necessary that by Wednesday, 29 June, at 12 o'clock noon all corrections be delivered to comrade Avaneson.

Each People's Commissar is responsible for his Commissariat for the thoughtfulness and completeness of the questions on reports and for the correctness of editing the questions.

Later corrections will not be accepted.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars and Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

* See Works, vol. XXVI, pp. 364—381.

MEMORANDA TO SECRETARIES
13 July 1921

7608

1) When will the Directive of the Council of Defense brochure come out? Order them to telephone both printing plants at once.

2) "Draft resolution of the Supreme Council of the National Economy" of 11 July. Where is it? It should be here.

7609

I shall probably leave today. Tomorrow get the "Directive of the Council of Defense" brochure and telephone me.

7610
TELEPHONOGRAM
TO AVANESON, PRESIDIUM OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, CHEKA
13 July 1921

Today, 13 July, they sent me again not a ready brochure, typeset, printed ("Directive of the Council of Defense" and Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee), but only a correction, not yet typeset, a draft.

Clearly both printing plants—of the Cheka and the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee—are sabotaging. Delay, procrastination shameful, unbearable.

I ask that the matter be accelerated and those responsible for the delay—the heads of both printing plants—be punished.

Do not refuse to inform me what you have done.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
Lenin

7611
RESOLUTION ON THE LETTER FROM V. A. AVANESON AND P. I. POPOV
14 July 1921

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars, comrade Lenin

To comrade Avaneson and Popov:

I personally monitor the work of printing the "Directive." The delay depends not on the printing plant, but exclusively on the proofreading. I fear there will be many errors in the "Directive." Because corrections were introduced at different times in separate sections and many inconsistent places—the delay depends exclusively on me and Popov.

Yesterday evening at 9:30 I personally reviewed the proofs in the Cheka printing plant. They promised to have it ready by today.

V. Avaneson

It is necessary to appoint a responsible proofreader.

LENIN

P. Popov

7083
FROM A LETTER
TO THE EDITORIAL BOARDS OF "IZVESTIYA VTSIK," "PRAVDA," "BEDOTA,"
"ECONOMIC LIFE"
21 July 1921

I ask that attention be drawn to No. 44 of the "Collection of Decrees and Dispositions of the Government" of 1 July 1921 "On Local Economic Councils, Their Reporting and Leadership by the Directive of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Defense" (decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee).

It is necessary to place several articles indicating and providing detailed explanation of the significance of this decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, in particular emphasizing that it is impermissible to create any apparatus for reporting, since the law declares the only apparatus to be the provincial and district statistical bureaus.

Set out in detail the principal significance of local economic councils and the reporting published for general knowledge both for the implementation of the new economic policy in general and for proper economic construction.

Especially emphasize the question of commodity exchange, then the development of local economic initiative, the struggle against bureaucratism, and the involvement of non-party persons in the work of economic construction.

I ask Rosta to send two or three brief telegrams on this subject to immediately inform all provincial and district cities, with a request to reprint in all local party and Soviet newspapers.

I ask the editorial boards of Moscow newspapers to send me either clippings of articles published according to this request, or separate issues with articles on this subject especially highlighted.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from typewritten copy.

7687
TO CENTROPRINTING*
21 July 1921

I ask you to report to me what measures you have taken to execute paragraph 9 of the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of 1 July concerning the reporting of local organs, as well as for the proper and swift distribution of this decree to all local institutions. Please inform me without fail of the deadline by which the delivery of this decree to provincial, district, and volost organs will be completed.

Chairman of Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

7698
MEMORANDUM TO MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS**
23 July 1921

It is impossible to tolerate such procrastination. Achieve acceleration and check!

Lenin

* The letter was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

** Written on the following report from Centroprinting (reply to V. I. Lenin's request of 21 July 1921): "Centroprinting has not yet received the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of 1 July concerning the reporting of local organs at all (except 2 copies sent with your letter). At the present time only 3,000 copies have been printed, which are at the disposal of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Upon printing in the Cheka printing plant, we shall take all measures for delivery and inform you.

Regarding the delivery of 'Economic Life' to the economic councils, we are issuing instructions to all branches of Centroprinting to supply the economic councils with this newspaper in 2 copies in the first place."

2459
RESOLUTION ON A MEMORANDUM FROM THE COMMANDANT
OF THE KREMLIN
6 June 1921

To the Chairman of the Council of Defense, comrade Lenin

Everything possible has been done to improve the food supply of the military school in the Kremlin:

1. Agreed with the Revolutionary Military Council and the People's Commissariat of Food to leave the combat ration to the school...

2. At present the school is fully ensured for three weeks with provisions.

3. I ask your personal assistance in accelerating the evacuation of the Arsenal: all measures I have taken through the Commander-in-Chief and the Central Directorate will not accelerate the matter. If in a month we cannot evacuate the Arsenal, the school will be placed in an absolutely hopeless position by autumn. Therefore I ask you, Vladimir Ilyich, to direct the attention of the appropriate organs to this matter.

2154
FROM A LETTER FROM L. A. FOTIYEVA
6 June 1921

Lydia Alexandrovna!

Please distribute the enclosed, after reading it, so as to know the contents...

My ink, as you see, is poor: please send me a small bottle of good ink for a fountain pen.

Send also the following telegram:

Kharkov, Sammer

How stands the matter with Foreign Trade on the Ukraine? the size of your exchange fund? actually available? how many steamships in route to southern ports? are you sending details here in writing? to whom and when exactly did you send them? Inform me at least briefly by telegraph or by telephone to my secretary Fotiyeva.

Chairman of Council of Defense Lenin

Check by telephone whether Sammer is in Kharkov; if not, where he is, when he will return. (If by telephone, write down his answer precisely).

I also ask for more envelopes. And a bit of paper.

With communist greetings
Lenin

MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

It is necessary to press and check you personally suddenly once and twice a month*

Lenin

Ask the librarian to get for me for a time Heine, volume 2 of poems, and Goethe, Faust, both in German, preferably in small format.

Please hurry with answers to all my letters, both these and the previous ones...

2761
RESOLUTION ON A DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
7 June 1921

I do not agree.
Why repeal?

Let them write me briefly.

Lenin

Resolution of the Council of People's Commissars

The Council of People's Commissars resolved:

To repeal the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of 26 November 1918, published in the Collection of Decrees in article No. 896, on the organization of an interdepartmental reference service under the People's Commissariat of Posts and Telegraph and its local organs.

Concentrate the reference service under the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs and the administrative departments locally.

6906
TO THE MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
8 June 1921

Please send, without citing me, the following letter to the corresponding district and provincial State Farm, and then verify its execution:

We have received a report that peasants are angered by the poor management of the "Gorki" state farm near Moscow. There was, they say, a rich and well-organized estate, but now everything is falling into decline. The fish pond will be lost, where fish were bred, and now it is "drying up." It is necessary to try to find in Moscow a sensible person on fish-breeding and the construction of ponds, send him to the spot; give the "Gorki" state farm the assignment: necessarily attract the surrounding peasants, give them a share of the profit, and a larger share, from fish-breeding, but do not let the farm decline; raise it instead.

With communist greetings
Lenin

* The reference is to the district and provincial administration of state farms.

6836
NOTES ON A MEMORANDUM FROM THE SECRETARY
15 June 1921

...Stalin is now in Nalchik, correspond with him through a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Caucasian Republic or through Ordzhonikidze*

Remind me.

6933
NOTE ON A LETTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF AMERICA
16 June 1921

To Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov-Lenin, Chairman of the Soviet Council
Moscow, Russia

The University Library in Illinois

Dear Sir!

We wish to ask for your assistance in the matter of supplementing our collection of foreign documents with official publications of your Government and we hope that you will include our name in your list so that in the future we might receive your publications and that you will also send us, insofar as possible, back numbers.

Such an arrangement will be beneficial not only to us; we think that, without doubt, it is in your interest to have authoritative information regarding your country in collections of such an extensive reference library as ours. Our collection of foreign documents amounts to a thousand volumes and is acquiring ever greater significance in research work of all kinds.

Your assistance in the matter of increasing the value of this collection will, of course, be appreciated; for our part, we are willing to mutually exchange such publications of the University as you may wish to receive, if you will only indicate precisely what you desire...

* In a note transmitted directly on 14 June 1921 to comrade Ordzhonikidze in Baku, the following was reported: "Comrade Ordzhonikidze! This morning comrade Lenin asked me where comrade Stalin is now. If you know, please inform me, as Lenin does not have an address and has repeatedly asked.—Allilueva" (Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism, doc. No. 44481). On 15 June a reply note was received from Baku, transmitted by the instruction of comrade Ordzhonikidze: "In reply to your inquiry, I report that comrade Stalin is in Nalchik. You can correspond with him through us or through a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Caucasian Republic" (Archive of the Institute of Marxism-Leninism, doc. No. 44480).

MANAGER OF AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

Answer them, proposing book exchange.

Lenin

ON THE PREPARATION
OF MATERIALS ON THE GEORGIAN QUESTION

6949
FROM A MEMORANDUM TO THE SECRETARY
21 June 1921

I must find the printed text of the resolution on the Georgian Mensheviks adopted by the all-Russian conference of Mensheviks, RSDLP, I believe in late 1919 or early 1920.

This was first printed in one newspaper (it seems, the newspaper of printers at that time) and then as a brochure.

The resolution was called, I believe, a resolution on party unity.

Lenin

7719
TELEPHONOGRAM TO N. L. MESHCHERYAKOV*
25 July 1921

I learned from Chicherin's letter that you have prepared a brochure or a series of articles on the Georgian question. Have you used the resolution of the Menshevik conference of 1919 that recognized the bloc of Georgian Mensheviks with the Entente as inadmissible and condemned this bloc?

If you don't have this resolution, I can get it for you.

Lenin

* The document was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF REPORTING
MATERIALS

22942
ON BRIEF MONTHLY EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS
30 June 1921

1. Current reports, which should be in all departments, institutions, chief administrations, enterprises (including non-state ones), are submitted no less than once a month.

2. To "Economic Life," the State Planning Commission and the Central Statistical Administration, these reports must be delivered for examination regularly and promptly (independently of the requirements of higher Soviet institutions that must in any case be satisfied).

3. Brief extracts from the reports (size of production; number of workers; number of enterprises, etc., only absolutely necessary figures) are delivered in 3 copies, one each to "Economic Life," the Central Statistical Administration, and the State Planning Commission.

4. "Economic Life" prints them immediately.

5. Analysis of these reports is conducted on the most important branches of the national economy by individual members of the editorial staff of "Economic Life," the State Planning Commission, and the Central Statistical Administration (according to § 6 now).

6. Periodic summary-reviews "Economic Life" prints periodically, on deadlines established by the editorial staff, no less than twice a year.

7. The simplest graphs are compiled by the Central Statistical Administration monthly.

It must develop the form for them within a week's deadline.

According to the approved forms, compile them within a week after approval of the forms.

7729
TO THE CENTRAL STATISTICAL ADMINISTRATION
28 July 1921

I ask the head of the Department of Industrial Statistics to report to me in the shortest time the following information:

1) what information arrives and how often in the Department of Industrial Current Statistics;

2) from how many large enterprises;

3) the percentage (even if approximate) of correctly submitted reports and brief communications;

4) for what recent months is there satisfactory information;

5) in how long can I receive the briefest summary of the latest information concerning only the chief branches of industry;

6) are a very few particularly large enterprises singled out and if so, how many are they and what is the information about them*.

Chairman of Council of Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

7755
NOTE ON A LETTER FROM KAMО (S. A. TER-PETROSYAN)
June 1921

Highly esteemed and dear
Vladimir Ilyich,

Kamо.

During the party conference of the Russian Communist Party I informed you of my desire to have a conversation with you about my new, startling plans. This conversation could take place during your walk or rest and would not tire you in the least. Perhaps you will find that my ideas prove to be very valuable and their implementation very important for the present moment, or else you will find them very amusing and laugh heartily, as you know how to do.

I would like you to hear me out before the beginning or at the beginning of the Comintern congress.

Devoted to you Kamо

* On the document there is a record of the following instruction of V. I. Lenin, transmitted from Gorki:

"Tomorrow by telephone verify execution and transmit to Vladimir Ilyich by telephone the results or send by courier-letter at 11 a.m. Request to prepare newspapers for the 28th and 29th and the mail."

The document is printed from typewritten copy.

Remind me!

TELEPHONOGRAM
TO THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE, PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLY, FOREIGN TRADE, PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE
4 July 1921

I propose that you urgently collect from your departments and chief administrations materials on the question of the development of the most valuable goods on the current market (products, materials, raw materials, etc.) and, after preliminary discussion, send a responsible representative with them to the Small Council of People's Commissars at a commission session on Friday, 8 July, at 11 o'clock in the morning.

I place the chairmanship on the chairman of the Small Council of People's Commissars.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

ON THE INTRODUCTION OF PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

29208
TELEPHONOGRAM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF RAILWAYS
4 July 1921

Convene a meeting of competent representatives of your department on the question of payment for all other services, besides the transport of freight and passengers, rendered to the population by the state, and of articles currently distributed free of charge by your department.

Present materials and a draft decree to the chairman of the Small Council of People's Commissars by 15 July.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

8562
TO THE SMALL COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
27 August 1921

A whole series of statements indicates that the introduction of payment (for services, etc.) often places workers in an impossible position. It is necessary to elect a commission:

1) 2 from the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions

2) 1 representative each from the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets

3) 2 members of the Council of People's Commissars

4) the chairman of the Small Council of People's Commissars—as chairman.

The commission's task:

to prepare comprehensively the question (and corresponding decrees) so that the introduction of payment would be in accord with workers' wages and with their position in general (exemptions for workers, etc., or something of that sort, deadlines and conditions for introduction of payment, etc.).

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

All these questions are to be conducted only through the Large Council of People's Commissars.

Printed from typewritten copy.

30635
LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV
7 July 1921

To Comrade Molotov

I propose that the Central Committee resolve:

to oblige comrade Menzhinskу to take leave and rest immediately pending written certification from physicians of health. Until then visit no more than 2—3 times a week for 2—3 hours.

Lenin

MEMORANDUM TO L. A. FOTIYEVA
8 July 1921

Lydia Alexandrovna!

Please distribute the enclosed letters, with verification (in the book of dispatches and receipts).

N.B. It is necessary to start a bound book of receipts and have all recipients sign in it for my packages with messengers. Paste receipts in it as well.

Add a seal and the signature of the secretary to Krzhizhanovsky. If necessary, I will rewrite it on a blank. Send 10—20 blanks.

Regards! Lenin

P.S. Ask Sklyansky to send me a secret memorandum

(1) on the military situation

(2) on what agreement Glavkom reached with Stalin.

2607
TELEGRAM TO THE SIMBIRSK DISTRICT CONGRESS
OF SOVIETS
Between 15—19 July 1921

Simbirsk

XII District Congress of Soviets of Simbirsk District

I report that the Soviet power is taking the most vigorous and decisive measures to render assistance to those affected by crop failure. Everywhere collections are being organized. The All-Russian Central Executive Committee appealed on 12 July with a proclamation to the entire population of Russia to render every assistance to the starving. A special committee for aid to the starving has been formed under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. A similar committee has been formed for receiving aid in bread from abroad. Within days authorized representatives of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee will come to you. We are doing everything possible.

Chairman of Council of Defense
Lenin

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.

LETTER TO THE SECRETARIAT OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS*
21 July 1921

I ask that attention be drawn to the switchboard of the lower floor of the Kremlin. It works completely unsatisfactorily. In all probability, besides some defects in the organization and administration of this institution, there is another circumstance at work—the circle of institutions directly using it has expanded excessively.

Do you not think it correct to reorganize the matter in such a way that the switchboard be used first of all only by: 1. Members of the Central Committee. 2. Members of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and 3. People's Commissars. All other institutions should, in my opinion, either be completely excluded or separately assigned, so that the central government apparatus would have a telephone connection working absolutely without reproach.

I ask you to inform me of your opinion on this question. I very much insist on the necessity of absolutely decisive and swift reform.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

7300
MEMORANDUM TO V. M. MOLOTOV**
24 July 1921

Comrade Molotov!

Both I and Nadezhda Konstantinovna know Fofanova as an honest Bolshevik since before 1917. It is necessary to pay special attention. Write me 2 words.

Lenin

* The letter was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

On the document there is a record of V. I. Lenin's instruction: "Vladimir Ilyich asks to send the books sent from the Comintern. Keep a list of these books. A copy to him. Today with an opportunity."

** Written in connection with a letter received by V. I. Lenin from M. V. Fofanova from the Crimea.

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF AGRICULTURE
24 July 1921

Author—comrade Fofanova, was a member of
the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture.

I do not propose her for this post.

This is—a party comrade, thoroughly tested even before October 1917.

An agronomist.

In my opinion, it is absolutely necessary to use her: call her, talk, discuss. Either for local work. Or for inspection work.

There are so few agronomists from among party comrades, and this environment (agronomists) is so "foreign" to us, that we must firmly grasp a party person for supervision of this environment, verification of it, attracting this environment to us.

Write, when you decide, what you are doing.

Lenin

P.S. Return Fofanova's letter.

7305
TELEPHONOGRAM TO V. M. MOLOTOV*
25 July 1921

To Molotov:

I have read the papers delivered to me at your instruction with a letter from the secretary of the City Committee of the Moscow organization, as well as the question of the distribution of bread in Moscow and Petrograd. On the second question I have already given you my draft resolution to the Politburo. On the first question we will talk in person by telephone or at a meeting on Wednesday.

Lenin

* The document was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

2698
TELEGRAM TO A. D. TSYURUPA
July 1921

To Tsyurupa

In accordance with your petition your leave is extended for 3 months. Take heart and by all means complete the full course of treatment. You will be an excellent worker*.

Lenin

8484
TELEPHONOGRAM TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOOD SUPPLY OF THE UKRAINE**
6 August 1921

Kharkov, to Vladimirоv

First: I advise you to sell salt exclusively for bread and in no case for money signs.

Second: Sell salt only to volosts, villages, or individual householders who have paid no less than 1/4 or 1/2 of the tax.

Third: I think that for successful collection of the tax it is necessary to have military units to assist in this collection, so that these military units would receive increased rations at the expense of local peasants until the tax is paid.

Fourth: I ask you to report what the food situation is in the Donbas, how well it is provided for and for how long.

Lenin

7392
LETTER TO A MEMBER OF THE COLLEGIUM OF THE CHEKA
9 August 1921

In the letter about Shelekhez (Yakov Savelievich) you say: "people are interceding for him" all the way to Lenin and ask to allow you "to pay no attention to all intercessions and pressures on the matter of Gokhran."

I cannot permit this. The inquiry I sent is not "intercession," nor "pressure," nor "petition."

I am obliged to inquire once I am pointed out doubts as to correctness.

* The final phrase of the telegram is written in the hand of V. I. Lenin.

** The document was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

[1921 YEAR]

You are obliged to give me a substantive answer: "the arguments or evidence 
are such-and-such serious ones, I am against liberation, against mitigation," 
etc.
That is precisely how substantively you must answer me.
You may reject petitions and "appeals"; "pressure" 
is unlawful action. But I repeat, your confusion of a request 
from the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars with a petition, appeals, or pressure 
is erroneous.
Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from typewritten 
copy.

ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSING SERVICES
NOTES TO THE SMALL SOVNARKOM*
August 1921

Our houses are filthy in the most deplorable way. The law is no damned good. It is necessary to indicate responsible persons ten times more precisely and fully (and not just one, but many in sequence of rank) and to imprison them mercilessly.

August 11, 1921

I agree with the following additions:
1) besides the manager, his "deputy" is responsible.
There must be a deputy;
2) besides them, a control commission 
made up of residents is responsible. There must be such a commission of no fewer than 3 persons, 
who must always be present or have their deputies present.
3) All these persons are answerable both in court and administratively.

Lenin

* In his notes, V. I. Lenin provides instructions for the correction 
and supplementation of the "Regulations on the Management of Houses," adopted by the Small 
Sovnarkom on August 8, 1921. The "Regulations" were published in Izvestiya 
on August 12, 1921.

LENIN MISCELLANY

August 19, 1921

This is insufficient.
It is necessary to add:
1) the responsibility of residents for the failure to elect a manager and 
his "deputy"
2) ------the same for the failure to elect a control commission
3) the obligation of both the manager and the deputy and the control commission 
to ensure that there is a daily responsible 
duty officer (either the manager himself, or the deputy, or a member of the control 
commission)
apart from specially hired personnel (janitor, etc.), should such exist
4) the responsibility of residents in houses with fewer than 10 apartments.
How is the responsibility of residents to be established? This needs to be 
thought through and a method found.

Lenin

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDIUM OF GOSPLAN*
August 23, 1921

Most urgent.
To Comrade Krzhizhanovsky
To the Presidium of Gosplan

I need to have, before Krasin's departure, the briefest outline of all work being conducted in Gosplan on the question 
of economic work necessary for the advancement of agriculture 
in the provinces affected by famine.

I request that you commission this outline for me, so that it 
is ready in two or three days.

* Document dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

1921 YEAR

I request that you keep in mind that it should be limited to the briefest information in a few lines on each type of 
proposed work with an approximate determination of the scope of the work and its cost.

I request that you inform me what deadline this reference material will be delivered to me by.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Send urgently, having verified by telephone when Krzhizhanovsky receives it.

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO*
August 26, 1921

I advise that considerable attention be paid to this matter, 
to ascertain the verification of the solidity of the accusation, and in the event that it is fully proven, in which 
there apparently cannot be doubt, then arrange a public trial, conduct it with maximum speed, and execute by shooting.

ON THE WORK OF A. V. LUNACHARSKY
NOTE TO M. N. POKROVSKY
August 1921

Comrade M. N. Pokrovsky

Comrade Lunacharsky has arrived.
Finally!
Get him going, for Christ's sake, with all your might to work on 
professional education, on the unified labor school 
and so on.
Don't let him go to the theater!!

Lenin

* The telephone message was sent by V. I. Lenin in connection with a telegram received from him by Sibrevkom, in which it was reported that Baron Ungern on August 22 was surrounded by the vanguard of Red Army troops, was captured together with his staff, and was transported to Novonikolaevsk. On September 15, 1921, the White Guard baron Ungern was sentenced to execution by the Tribunal.

At the top of the document, a note by the secretary:
"Vladimir Ilyich's conclusion, transmitted by telephone to the Politburo."

Document dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy.

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY*
August 26, 1921

To Comrade Lunacharsky

I cannot meet, as I am ill.

I advise putting all theaters in the coffin.

The People's Commissar of Enlightenment must be occupied not with theater, 
but with the teaching of literacy.

Lenin

RESOLUTION ON THE APPEAL OF THE SOCIETY OF DOUKHOBORS 
IN CANADA
August 30, 1921

Urgent. Very urgent

TO THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OF STO

I am completely for it. My view: immediately grant permission and reply most graciously. Consult 
the Politburo (through Molotov) 
and the Council of People's Commissars and call me.

Lenin

To the Government of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic
Appeal from the Society of Doukhobors in Canada

We, Doukhobors, living in Canada, left Russia—our 
native land—in order to free ourselves from the violence of the autocratic tsarist government, which forced us to renounce our principles: equality, 
brotherhood, and freedom. We believe that Russia has taken the path of liberation of the oppressed people and we wish to join in this and to help. We have chosen delegates to go to Russia for negotiations with you 
and to convey to you our goals and intentions. We ask you to grant them 
free passage for entry into Russia. With greetings from the whole Society 
of Doukhobors...

We ask to be informed through the Society of Technical Assistance to Soviet 
Russia in New York...

* Document dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from the secretary's record.

ANNOTATIONS ON A NOTE FROM THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE
September 2, 1921

FROM A NOTE BY THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS

Send the following paper from me: NKFIN + RABKRIN + 
+ Chairman of the Small Sovnarkom:

I instruct the People's Commissars of Finance and Workers' and Peasants' Inspection (or their deputies) to immediately convene a meeting with the participation of the chairman of the Small Sovnarkom 
and the office of administrative affairs of the Council of People's Commissars to work out and submit within a week 
to the Council of People's Commissars draft decrees for combating the violations of law indicated here. I draw the attention of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection to the oversight.

How could such abominations as indicated in this paper have been tolerated until now? in particular, overexpenditure by the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment on theaters?

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

Lenin

To the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

...In the course of carrying out the obligations placed 
on the central and local financial organs, we have recently 
encountered exceptionally unfavorable obstacles, the chief 
one being the complete oblivion on the part of executive 
organs of Soviet power of the Constitutional directives 
on the compilation of budgets and expenditure in accordance 
with them, which is having an extremely harmful effect on the 
general state of the budget and is introducing extraordinary 
upheavals into the system of monetary circulation.

To illustrate, it suffices to mention the following circumstances: 1) in certain districts, workers' wages are paid not 
according to tariff rates, but according to free market prices, 
sometimes reaching 700 thousand rubles per person per day 
(Volga region, western and eastern provinces); 2) artists and workers 
in Soviet theaters are remunerated not according to tariff salaries, but with supplements amounting to many hundreds of percent of these (moreover, according to the budget

an abomination!!

How did they "master" this 
without NKFIN?

of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment, expenditure on the maintenance of theaters is estimated at 29 billion, while on higher educational establishments at 17 billion); 3) purchases by Soviet institutions and enterprises of required items on the free market and, of course, at the prices of the latter have become a common practice, having passed into a rule...

The most immediate confirmation of the unsystematic nature of demands from cash institutions for monetary notes may be served by the practice adopted even in Moscow 
by Soviet institutions, according to which the organs of the Moscow Soviet strive to have the Moscow finance department dispose of monetary notes for them at 3 billion rubles 
per day, i.e., at 75 billion per month, whereas according to the data of the Budget department and the Central Cash Office of NKFIN, credits opened for the Moscow finance department amount to only 188 billion rubles, i.e., 
on average no more than 27-30 billion rubles 
per month...

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS AND STO

September 3, 1921

Direct an inquiry to the VChK.

Tikhvinsky was not arrested "by chance": chemistry and counter-revolution do not exclude each other*.

Lenin

* Written by V. I. Lenin on a petition for the release 
of Prof. Tikhvinsky, arrested in Petrograd. The authors of the letter referred to the fact that Prof. Tikhvinsky is a specialist in the field of pure 
and applied chemistry.

September 5, 1921

In particular, one must watch very closely over Hydropeat, both in connection with orders already placed abroad for peat moss 
for the 1922 season, and in connection with the recent report by R. E. Klassov of having resolved the problem of dehydration.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from typewritten 
copy.

CORRESPONDENCE ON P. KH. LALAYANTS
LETTER TO YA. P. VISHNYAK*
September 5, 1921

Dear Comrade,

I am very grateful for the news about Lalayants. I am extremely sorry 
that he has turned out to be outside the ranks of the RKP.

If possible, I would ask you to write to me in more detail about why 
he stands outside the party, when he left it, how he lived under Kolchak in Siberia and so on.

Since you think it would be useful to draw him into Soviet work, I would also ask you to write to me whether you believe 
that he needs to seek work in Irkutsk, or whether it is possible and advisable elsewhere, perhaps in Moscow.

With communist greetings

Lenin

* The letter was dictated by V. I. Lenin by telephone. Printed from typewritten copy. On the letter received by V. I. Lenin on September 5 from Ya. P. Vishnyak, he made a note: "Vishnyak on Lalayants, September 5, 1921. See reverse." On the reverse, in Lenin's hand is written the beginning of the published document and a note "by telephone" (Archive IMEL, doc. no. 8992).

NOTE TO I. V. STALIN
October 20, 1921

Comrade Stalin! Please review and, if possible, ask some of the old party members, perhaps an Armenian. I have known 
Lalayants since the 1890s as a Marxist and then a Bolshevik. 
Undoubtedly a devoted revolutionary, who must be utilized, despite political disagreements.

Lenin

REPLY FROM I. V. STALIN

I also stand for inviting Lalayants to Moscow for work.

I. Stalin

LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE ALL-UNION CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
January 13, 1922

Comrade Lalayants tells me that his family needs to be helped 
by sending them a subsidy to live on until March. Talk with Stalin: how can this be done? from the Central Committee? or from the Presidium of the All-Union Central Executive Committee? Write to me, please, addressed to Fotieva—can this be arranged or not (the amount must be found out from Lalayants)? If there are difficulties, what are they? what is the issue?

Then I will seek ways and means. Please forward this to Stalin: by the way, I ask him to reach an agreement with Lalayants 
about work for Lalayants. I see, after a conversation with Lalayants, 
that I cannot decide this. Stalin must decide in the Orgburo, or with the help of the Orgburo.

Lenin

LETTER TO THE STATISTICS DEPARTMENT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RKP(b)
September 5, 1921

Is it not possible to provide more detailed data on the distribution of Communists in Soviet positions (excluding the Red Army).

Commissariat   department   subdepartment etc.

and more detailed information on the character and nature of the work.

At least for Moscow (the most important; Moscow must be separated from the district if possible; Moscow is the main center) and for Petersburg.

My impression—the statistics of RKP members takes too many trifles, "common" to all statistics, but unimportant. But we are interested in details about distribution in Soviet 
positions.

With communist greetings

Lenin

INSTRUCTION FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS*
September 11, 1921

Red tape must be caught and punished—not intentional red tape, for "intentional" can never be caught.

Lenin

* While reporting on the results of the investigation, the office of administrative affairs wrote that "there was no intentional red tape on the part of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment." V. I. Lenin underlined the word "intentional" three times.

TO THE ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE SUPREME ECONOMIC COUNCIL
COPY TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME ECONOMIC COUNCIL
September 12, 1921

You are proposed to supply, with complete precision and maximum fulfillment of the construction deadlines established, the Kashira construction project with the required electrical technical materials.

I categorically demand that there be no delays in this, which could result in the failure of the construction to complete its work by the established deadlines.

Report on the progress of supply to the Council of Labor and Defense.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

Lenin

Printed from the original, 
signed by V. I. Lenin.

RESOLUTION ON A NOTE FROM THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR FOR MILITARY AFFAIRS
September 23, 1921

Dismiss. What are we to do with the 1897 class? We are for now 
holding back the order for dismissal, we dismissed 
1896 and the remnants of 1892-1895.

TELEGRAM FROM V. I. LENIN AND I. V. STALIN
TO N. N. NARIMANOV*
September 26, 1921

Baku

To Narimanov

Under no circumstances conclude any agreement either with the Germans or with anyone else on foreign trade without the agreement of the Regional Foreign Trade Board and without the sanction of the Central Committee of the RKP. Reply by telegram confirming receipt and compliance, and then inform us by letter of all the details.

Lenin. Stalin

* The text and signatures in the document are written in V. I. Lenin's hand.

NOTE TO I. V. STALIN
September 27, 1921

Comrade Stalin!

I am sending the "military" [matter].

It must be brought to the Politburo on September 29. Or should I quickly reject it by telephone?

Lenin

P.S. I will send you a letter "On the Question of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection." Read it—then we will talk.

NOTE TO I. V. STALIN*
September 29, 1921

Comrade Stalin!

What should be done? Clarify with Sergo and tell me.

Lenin

* The note was written in connection with a request from the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of G. V. Chicherin to take measures against violations by individual Baku workers of the decisions of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the RKP and the Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee on questions of foreign policy.

PRELIMINARY CALCULATIONS OF FOODSTUFFS
(1921)
September 1921

Without Ukraine    Ukraine
180                180
(+ 60 for itself)
25                 25

Tax
Milling
Goods exchange

10(?)               10(?)
2½                 
+                  +

67½282         67=282

Tax
Milling tax
Goods exchange

Moscow can receive:
Without [Ukraine]    Ukraine
170-180
20-25
10-20

Total
30-40
(for itself 60)  200-220
17-20
37-45

10-20
20-40

Total
257-305
2810

TELEGRAM TO PROVINCIAL SOVNARKHOZES (REGIONAL SOVIET OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY)
COPY TO PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
October 13, 1921

In order to avoid interruption in army supplies, it is proposed to discontinue, under the personal responsibility of the provincial sovnarkhoz, the expenditure of felt boots without requisitions from the Center. Within a week, provide information to the Chief Administration of Light Industry on their availability and thereafter 
monthly on current production. Release is to be made exclusively on the basis of requisitions from the Chief Economic Board and the People's Commissariat of Food, issued on the basis of decisions of the Commission for the Utilization of the Council of Labor and Defense. 
Those guilty of unauthorized expenditure of felt boots shall be brought to trial for misappropriation. The provincial executive committee is to ensure compliance.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

Lenin

Printed from the original, 
signed by V. I. Lenin.

LETTER TO THE ORGBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RKP(b)
October 21, 1921

In view of the request of Ivan Ivanovich Skvorcov (Stepanov), I ask you to cancel his business trip and instead send him to one of the collective farms near Moscow, for dairy production, so that in 1-1½ months, not distracted by other matters, he can complete the literary work he has undertaken*. (Find the collective farm through the appropriate Moscow organ).

Lenin

* This concerns the book by I. Stepanov "Electrification of the RSFSR in Connection with the Transitional Phase of World Economy," published in 1922 with a preface by V. I. Lenin (see Works, vol. XXVII, pp. 195-196).

REMARKS ON THE DRAFT STATEMENT OF THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT AT THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE OF POWERS
October 24, 1921

Comrade Chicherin! I am sending my corrections and ask you to return 
them with your comments.

No. 1) We have not 150 million, but 130, counting the Far Eastern Republic.
No. 2) Not "to concede," but to make a number of concessions.
No. 3) The main thing: it is necessary to say both subtly and precisely about the claims 
against them.

With communist greetings

Lenin

Draft Statement

The Brussels Conference of representatives of 
the powers, according to information in Western European newspapers, has made the granting of credits 
to the Russian government for aid to the starving a condition of their recognition of the debts of former Russian governments. The Russian government has not yet been informed of the decisions of this conference. The Russian government, however, in the face of starving masses of people, does not wish to concern itself with the niceties of diplomatic etiquette 
and deems it its essential duty to immediately declare its attitude toward the Brussels decisions. British Prime Minister Mr. Lloyd George in his speech of August 16 in the British parliament called a devilish design the proposal to use famine in Russia in order to force it to recognize the debts of the tsar's government. Nevertheless, the Brussels Conference, fully aware that in view of the scale of the famine disaster in Russia the Soviet government is not in a position to save the affected population from death by its own efforts, has made the granting of Russia credits, without which serious aid to the starving is impossible, a condition of the Soviet government's recognition of old debts.

Directing the attention of working masses of all 
countries and all citizens to whom considerations of humanity are dear, to these actions of the Brussels Conference, the Russian government at the same time declares that the proposal to recognize old debts on certain conditions is in accordance with its own intentions at the present time. Since the beginning of its existence, the Soviet government has placed economic cooperation with other powers among the basic goals of its policy. It has always declared its readiness to provide sufficient profit to foreign capitalists who would help it in the development of Russia's natural resources and in the restoration of its economic apparatus. At the present time it states that in official declarations both of the President of the American United States and of British ministers, the thought is constantly expressed that three years after the end of the world war there is still no real peace, the need of the masses of people is becoming ever more acute, state debts are increasing, and ruin is growing.

It is perfectly obvious that it is impossible to think 
of establishing complete peace without Russia with its population of 150 million, that it is impossible to combat ruin while leaving ruins in Russia, and 
that the question of the mutual relations between Russia and the rest of the world, which is a first-rate world question, cannot be resolved without agreement with the Soviet government. From the standpoint of the long-term interests and constant needs of all states and all peoples, the economic restoration of Russia is a first-rate necessity not only for it but also for them. Without economic interaction with other countries, the task of Russia's economic revival becomes extremely difficult, and its fulfillment will have to be extended over a much longer period.

The Worker and Peasant government can fulfill this 
task better than any other. The private selfish interests of individual groups of capitalists do not hinder it in the work of restoration of the national economy. The interests of the broadest masses of people, which essentially mean the interests of society as a whole, directly guide the worker and peasant power. Setting itself the goal of satisfying the interests of the entire working people of Russia, the worker and peasant power, which has emerged victorious from unprecedented trials of civil war, opens the possibility for private initiative and capital to cooperate with the power of workers and peasants in the development of Russia's natural resources. The Soviet government has restored private trade, private property in small enterprises, the right of concessions and leasing of large ones.

Soviet power provides foreign capital with a sufficient share of profit for the satisfaction of its interests, in order to attract it to participate in economic work in Russia. Following this path, the Soviet government strives for economic agreements with all powers, for which, in the final analysis, it is necessary to conclude a final peace between Russia and other states. Setting itself this task, Soviet power encounters on the part of other powers a demand for recognition of the old debts of the tsar's government.

The Soviet government declares that in its firm conviction no people is obliged to pay the price of the chains which it has worn for centuries. But in its unshakeable resolve to come to a complete agreement with other powers, the Russian government is ready to concede on this important question. It thereby also goes to meet the wishes of numerous small holders of Russian state loans, especially in France, for whom recognition of them as tsarist debts represents a substantial interest. Proceeding from these considerations, the Russian government declares that it is ready to recognize obligations to other states and their citizens on state loans concluded by the tsar's government before 1914, under the provision of favorable conditions guaranteeing it practical possibility of fulfilling these obligations.

It goes without saying that an essential condition of this recognition is the simultaneous obligation of the great powers absolutely to put an end to all actions threatening the safety of the Soviet republics and the inviolability of their borders. In other words, the Soviet republic can assume these obligations only in the event that the great powers conclude with it a final universal peace, and if its government is recognized by other powers.

For this purpose, the Russian government proposes the earliest possible convening of an international conference which would address itself to the tasks outlined above, would consider the mutual demands of other powers and the Russian government, and would work out between them a final peace treaty. Only after the convening of this conference can universal peace be achieved. The latter will in no case be achieved by the Washington Conference, whose decisions will not be recognized by the Russian republic, which was not invited to participate in that conference.

On the approaching fourth anniversary of the existence of the Soviet government, all will be forced to state that the efforts of numerous external and internal enemies have only strengthened in Russia the worker and peasant power as the true protector 
and representative of the interests of the working masses of Russia and its independence. New interventionist designs against Soviet Russia, whose existence numerous statements of the leading organs of the press of the Entente powers indicate, will only further strengthen the unbreakable link between the working masses of Russia and the worker and peasant power representing their will, but an attempt to realize these designs could further increase the sufferings of the working masses and postpone the moment of Russia's final economic restoration, thereby striking a blow also against the economic interests of all other peoples.

The proposal with which the Russian government is coming forward is the best proof of its aspiration for peace with all 
states and for establishing with them uninterrupted economic relations undisturbed by anything. The realization of this proposal lies in the interests of all states and peoples.

The Russian government expresses firm hope that as a result of its proposal, in the near future a final settlement of economic and political relations between Russia and other states will be achieved.

NOTE FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
October 26, 1921

N. M. Knipovich is the most eminent scientific figure and absolutely, remarkably conscientious person. Therefore, it is necessary to approach with complete confidence and accept his proposal immediately*. Carry it through the Small Sovnarkom quickly and tell me if there is the slightest delay.

Lenin

* N. M. Knipovich wrote to V. I. Lenin:

"Most Esteemed Vladimir Ilyich, ... To me has come an appeal from the General Secretary of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (Conseil Permanent International pour l'exploration de la mer) Drechsel (C. F. Drechsel) with an inquiry, which compels me to trouble you with this letter, since I do not know to whom I should apply.

In 1901, the named international organization arose, in which, through their official representatives and experts, participated, besides the Scandinavian states, Germany, England, Russia with Finland, Belgium, and Holland, contributing definite sums toward the expenses connected with very extensive and productive work of the council. In the work there participated a whole series of the best forces in the field of both purely scientific and scientifically applied maritime research. This work produced a complete revolution in the indicated field, as the result of it, apart from numerous excellent printed works, was a multitude of new instruments, new methods of research, etc. The international organization had enormous significance also in that it supplied expeditions being equipped with improved instruments, including Russian ones. I was a member of it from the very beginning, and in the last years before the war, with the beginning of which representatives of the warring powers temporarily withdrew from it, and one of its "vice-presidents."

Russia's last contribution, amounting to 14,000 rubles (for the 1914-1915 budget year), received by the General Secretary at my intercession in 1915, was, on the advice of the Danish embassy, placed by Drechsel in the Azov-Don Bank. Drechsel's inquiry amounts to whether something can be done so that the International Council (whose activity has continued and continues uninterrupted) can get these funds back.

It seemed to me personally that Russia cannot but return these funds to the international scientific enterprise, which has brought enormous benefit (both generally and to Russia in particular) in the field of its activity."

NOTES TO A. V. LUNACHARSKY
November 1, 1921

Have you read the materials (Italian) on their congress?

Do you want me to arrange for you to write an article and smash to smithereens, 
drag through the mud the scoundrel Serrati?*

November 2, 1921

Comrade Lunacharsky!

I advise a major one—maximum and more exact quotations. This is necessary. I will help expedite publication. We can always make a small one from the large.

Lenin

* A. V. Lunacharsky replied to V. I. Lenin:

"I very much want to. I followed everything before the congress, but know little about the congress. I would need to get all the material. What is approximately the size of the article, for which organ?"

NOTE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SMALL SOVNARKOM
November 3, 1921

Comrade Litvinov very much asks me to ask you to consider 
an agreement with the Mongolian government today**.

Write, please, whether you will be able to.

With communist greetings

Lenin

** Having reviewed the draft agreement with the Mongolian Republic, the Small Council of People's Commissars resolved:
